VEON AdTech, a leading provider of advanced digital analytics, conducted a comparative study of data from 2022 and 2023 to identify new trends in regional and domestic tourism in Uzbekistan.
Tourism has become a vital part of the economy, contributing to its growth and diversification. The analysis results show the positive impact of modernizing the industry in the country. Citizens of Uzbekistan have maintained their interest in traveling to neighboring countries, while their interest in resort destinations has doubled on average. Foreign tourists have also shown more interest in Uzbekistan, especially in the eastern regions of the country, with a 1.5-fold increase. Let’s study the stats in detail.
Where do citizens of Uzbekistan travel to?
The most popular countries to visit for Uzbekistani citizens are Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye. These countries offer cultural, historical, and religious attractions, convenient transportation, and visa options. Exotic destinations such as Chile, the Bahamas, Peru, Ecuador, Macedonia, and Iceland remain the least popular. VEON AdTech specialists suggest that these countries, despite their rich culture and nature, need more promotion and development of tourist programs to attract more visitors. Compared to 2022, the number of trips by Uzbeks to resort countries increased by 2 times in 2023. Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Egypt, and Thailand remain popular destinations for Uzbek tourists who seek sun, sea, and sand. Thanks to simplified air travel procedures and established international relations, the number of trips increased the most to China (by 10 times), as well as to tropical countries — Thailand (by 9 times), Vietnam (by 10 times), and the Maldives (by 9.5 times). The summer season remains the peak time for traveling, and the average gender ratio of tourists is 75% men and 25% women.
Where do Uzbeks travel within the country?
Residents of Uzbekistan are very active in traveling within the country, exploring its diverse landscapes, cultures, and cuisines. According to statistics, residents of Tashkent, the capital city, travel 25 times more often than the rest of the citizens. During winter, Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara remain popular destinations, attracting thousands of tourists with their historical monuments, architectural wonders, and cultural events. In the summer, Fergana, a fertile valley with beautiful nature and crafts, surpasses Bukhara in popularity. 34% of trips occur on weekdays, which led VEON AdTech data analysts to hypothesize that most of these are business trips during the week. The remaining 66% are people traveling or returning to their hometowns on weekends. Interestingly, unlike international trips, the number of women traveling within the country is 1.5 times higher than men. For example, in September and October, 1,472,690 men and 2,023,566 women traveled domestically.
