Government to review high tourism costs and airline pricing

The issue was raised by entrepreneurs from the tourism sector, who pointed to mounting costs faced by foreign visitors. One tour operator said entrance fees to historical and cultural sites have become prohibitively expensive, particularly for European tourists, whose numbers have declined amid economic pressures at home. According to the entrepreneur, visiting 12–14 historical sites in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva can cost tourists $130–150, prompting many to skip certain attractions. Tourism services are also subject to a 12 percent value-added tax.

Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Davron Vakhabov added that accommodation costs further strain travel budgets, with hotel prices averaging $150–200 per night.

Entrepreneurs also highlighted the lack of affordable flights, urging the government to introduce discounts on air tickets for travel companies both during and outside the peak tourist season. In the absence of low-cost carriers, flights to Uzbekistan typically cost $700–900, they said, compared with $50–100 for short trips to destinations such as Georgia.

Khodjaev agreed that entrance fees at tourist sites are “very expensive” and acknowledged the broader concerns over airfares and the lack of VAT refund mechanisms. He said these issues, including ticket pricing and tax refunds, would be reviewed by a government commission.

Recalling the period when Wizz Air operated flights to Uzbekistan, the deputy prime minister noted that tickets were available for as little as $50–60. “From this perspective, we need to increase the number of low-cost carriers,” he said. Khodjaev also stressed the need to extend the average length of tourist stays, which currently stands at three to four days, by expanding hotel capacity and developing entertainment infrastructure.

“If we want to attract tourists from Brazil or North America, they will not come for just three days. Travel alone takes one to two days via Turkey,” he said.

Khodjaev urged ambassadors and entrepreneurs to pursue a more proactive strategy focused on attracting tourists from neighboring countries, who can reach Uzbekistan within three to four hours. He added that the Tourism Committee has been instructed to finalize dates for major festivals by the end of January.

Under a presidential decree, Uzbekistan aims to increase annual foreign tourist arrivals to 20 million by 2030. By the end of 2025, the country had hosted 11.7 million foreign visitors, up 46.7 percent year on year.

Last autumn, low-cost carrier Wizz Air suspended all flights from Abu Dhabi, including services to Tashkent, citing operational challenges and geopolitical instability in the Middle East.