Uzbekistan sees nearly 10% rise in outbound tourism during first three months of 2026

A total of 1,631,234 Uzbeks traveled abroad between January and March, representing an increase of nearly 111,600 travelers compared to the same period last year.

Neighboring countries remained the primary destinations, underscoring strong cross-border movement and regional integration within Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan emerged as the top destination with 660,579 visits, followed by Kazakhstan with 284,024 and Tajikistan with 282,040.

Beyond the immediate region, Saudi Arabia accounted for 136,060 trips, largely driven by religious tourism. Other significant destinations included Russia with 88,267 visitors, Turkey with 52,199, and the United Arab Emirates with 28,125. China also drew a notable number of travelers, reaching 15,844, while Thailand and Egypt received 13,839 and 12,186 visitors, respectively.

The accessibility of these destinations is supported by the increasing strength of the national passport. Uzbek passport holders can currently travel to 59 destinations either visa-free or by obtaining a visa on arrival. This level of global mobility was recently reflected in international rankings, where Uzbekistan was placed 74th in the latest Henley Passport Index.