Central Asian nations eye unified visa system and expanded flight routes

Uzbekistan and its neighboring countries are preparing to implement a series of measures designed to simplify travel and bolster regional tourism integration across Central Asia. Following a meeting between the Chairman of the Tourism Committee, Abdulaziz Akkulov, and Zulfiya Karimova, head of the CAREC program on grant support and transborder tourism, several initiatives were proposed to enhance the traveler experience.

Photo: Tourism Committee

A central theme of the discussions, held on May 11, was the development of the "Central Asian Tourism Ring." This initiative focuses on the introduction of a unified visa system for international visitors, allowing for seamless travel between multiple countries in the region. To support this, officials proposed the creation of dedicated corridors for organized tourist groups at border checkpoints, which would significantly reduce transit times and administrative hurdles.

Beyond regional connectivity, the parties discussed plans to expand Uzbekistan’s global reach. This includes increasing the frequency of flights to the United States, Australia, and various countries in Latin America. Promoting the region’s collective potential remains a priority, with plans to utilize the "Silk Road" tourism portal as a shared marketing platform and to establish a unified Central Asian pavilion at major international trade fairs, such as the FITUR exhibition in Madrid.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to launch a pilot project aimed at expanding several border crossings in the Tashkent and Fergana regions to accommodate higher traffic volumes. Additionally, the parties expressed their intention to deepen the partnership between CAREC and the "Silk Road" thematic office located in Samarkand, further cementing the city’s role as a regional hub for tourism development.