Uzbekistan's Tourism Committee has released its report on the 2024 tourism season, revealing that the country welcomed over 7 million foreign visitors, a 25% increase compared to the previous year. This figure also surpasses pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019, signaling a strong recovery for the sector.

The majority of tourists came from neighboring Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Russia, and China, accounting for 4.5 million arrivals. Notably, visitor numbers from European Union countries, particularly Germany, France, and Italy, saw a significant uptick. The committee chairman attributed this growth to the country's open-door policy and simplified visa procedures.

However, experts caution that the tourism infrastructure has not kept pace with the surge in demand. Issues such as hotel capacity, transportation, and service quality remain pressing. In historic cities like Samarkand and Bukhara, hotel occupancy rates have reached 90%, yet service standards in other regions lag behind.

Additionally, there is a recognized need for greater digitalization and more effective marketing campaigns. The government has outlined plans to implement over 50 tourism-related projects by 2025, with total investments exceeding $1 billion. These initiatives aim to build new hotels, roads, and tourist centers to address current shortcomings and sustain growth.

Source: www.aljazeera.com