Tourism is considered one of the most important economic sectors of the modern era, and Uzbekistan possesses immense tourism potential. In recent years, comprehensive reforms have been undertaken in the country to fundamentally transform the tourism industry. Enhancing tourism infrastructure and increasing the inflow of international visitors have become among the key priorities of the national development policy.
A wide range of strategic initiatives are currently being implemented to ensure the accelerated development of Uzbekistan’s tourism industry. These include expanding the role of the private sector, offering various incentives and privileges, improving the training and professional development of tourism personnel, and diversifying the range of tourism products and services available across the country.
In order to further develop the tourism sector, it is essential to modernize and enhance the necessary infrastructure. In this regard, two key components are of particular importance: transport and logistics.
At present, the Government of Uzbekistan is paying increased attention to reducing transport-related costs and meeting the growing demand for air travel. Measures are being taken to effectively introduce low-cost airlines on both international and domestic routes, as well as to improve mechanisms for purchasing tickets on modern high-speed rail services.
Ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan’s tourism sector are aimed at creating favorable economic conditions for travelers, increasing the sector’s contribution to the national economy, improving the quality of tourism services, and upgrading infrastructure across the country.
Strategically located in the heart of Central Asia, Uzbekistan holds a prominent place on the map of the Islamic world. In this context, the country’s potential in the field of pilgrimage tourism is attracting growing interest among Muslim communities worldwide.
Uzbekistan’s ancient cities – Samarkand, Bukhara, and Termez – have served for centuries not only as centers of trade and scholarship but also as sacred sites attracting pilgrims from all corners of the Muslim world.
Today, Uzbekistan is increasingly recognized as a prominent destination for pilgrimage tourism, offering a unique blend of spiritual heritage, rich history, and renowned hospitality.
One of the key factors attracting pilgrims to Uzbekistan is the presence of numerous mausoleums and pilgrimage sites associated with renowned Islamic scholars, sheikhs, Sufi masters, and pious figures. Notably, the mausoleum of the great Imam al-Bukhari is located in Samarkand.
Imam al-Bukhari is the author of the famous collection of hadiths known as “Sahih al-Bukhari,” which holds a position of paramount importance, second only to the Holy Qur’an in terms of religious significance. His mausoleum, situated near Samarkand, has become a major pilgrimage site for Muslims worldwide.
Currently, under the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, the Imam Bukhari Complex is being newly constructed and expanded. The mausoleum area has been enlarged to 600 square meters with a height of 28 meters. A mosque with a capacity for 10,000 worshippers has been built within the complex. The four corners of the complex are adorned with 75-meter tall minarets, which add grandeur and solemnity to the site.
At present, construction and engineering works have been completed, and the complex has entered the finishing and decoration phase, with special attention paid to national traditions and warm color schemes.
Additionally, restoration and beautification efforts are underway to transform the Imam Maturidi Memorial Complex into a prominent pilgrimage center.
In Bukhara, visitors can pay their respects at the mausoleum of Baha-ud-Din Naqshband, the founder of the Naqshbandi Sufi order, which holds a significant place in the spiritual life of the Islamic world. His teachings emphasized the importance of inner purification and devotion in daily life, profoundly influencing the intellectual traditions of Muslims from India to the Near East.
Furthermore, Uzbekistan is the homeland of great Islamic scholars such as Imam at-Termizi, Imam al-Maturidi, and Imam al-Margani. Their works laid the foundations of religious philosophy, Islamic jurisprudence and hadith studies. Visiting the mausoleums of these eminent scholars is not only an act of spiritual reverence but also an opportunity to connect with the roots of Islamic knowledge.
Taking into account the importance of broadly promoting Uzbekistan’s pilgrimage tourism sites, the dissemination of information about the country’s tourism assets has been elevated to the level of matters concerning spirituality and cultural enlightenment.
In this context, a concept is being developed to establish the “Imam Bukhari” Pilgrimage Tourism Companion television channel in multiple languages including Indonesian, Bengali, Urdu, Malay, Turkish, Arabic and Pashto. This initiative aims to widely popularize and promote the invaluable heritage of great Islamic scholars and spiritual leaders.
Furthermore, the leadership of Uzbekistan is placing particular emphasis on the active development of pilgrimage tourism by improving infrastructure and conditions for visitors from Islamic countries. Mosques, mausoleums, madrasas, and other sacred sites are being carefully restored while preserving their original appearance.
Another noteworthy development is the launch of the “Tabarruk Ziyorat” tourism platform on the official web portal of the Organization of Turkic States (www.tabarrukziyorat.uz). This initiative, spearheaded by the Tourism Committee with the involvement of industry experts, aims to enhance the promotion and accessibility of pilgrimage tourism.
The platform features information on nearly 260 pilgrimage sites and sacred landmarks located within Uzbekistan, which hold significant importance in the civilization of the Turkic world. This content has been translated into seven languages and made widely accessible.
Additionally, to accelerate cooperation in the field of tourism with the Turkic States, the platform features a book series titled “The Treasury of Turkic Literature” (https://tabarrukziyorat.uz/ru/news/turkiy-adabiyot). Furthermore, a comprehensive database has been created containing information about the tangible cultural heritage sites and prominent scholars of the member states of the Organization of Turkic States. This information has been translated into the Turkic language and is available on the platform (https://tabarrukziyorat.uz/tr/destination).
During the first six months of 2025, 57 percent of the total number of tourists visiting Uzbekistan were from member and observer states of the Organization of Turkic States. Specifically, the number of visitors included 80,769 from Turkey, 9,552 from Azerbaijan, 1,177,970 from Kazakhstan, 1,576,312 from the Kyrgyz Republic, 174,332 from Turkmenistan, and 16,213 from Hungary.
Furthermore, on July 29, 2022, the President of Uzbekistan issued a decree titled “Measures to Accelerate Cooperation in the Field of Tourism with the Turkic States,” which has been directly put into effect.
In summary, Uzbekistan is evolving not only as a popular travel destination but also as a genuine center of spiritual revival, where every devout Muslim can deeply experience a sense of reverence and historical heritage.
