The 4th International Umra Plus and Pilgrimage Tourism Exhibition concluded in Tashkent, with plans to implement around 100 cooperation agreements. These agreements aim to develop new tourism products and expand international partnerships in the pilgrimage tourism sector.

Over two days, more than 200 representatives from tour operators, hotel businesses, and transport companies from Central Asia, Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia discussed the development of pilgrimage tourism, new routes, and cooperation prospects.

A key focus of the exhibition was the promotion of the 'Umra+ Uzbekistan' project, which aims to introduce foreign pilgrims performing Umrah to the republic's historical and cultural heritage, its holy sites, and modern tourism infrastructure.

The event featured B2B meetings, business negotiations, and presentations of tourism products. Participants paid special attention to developing routes that combine pilgrimage with visits to Uzbekistan's historic cities, including Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva.

A separate program item was a visit by foreign participants to the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan. As a result, an agreement was reached to include this site among the key points of pilgrimage routes for foreign tourists.

The exhibition continued the international promotion of the 'Umra+ Uzbekistan' project, which had previously been presented in Turkey, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Organizers expect the project to increase the flow of foreign pilgrims and strengthen the country's position in the religious tourism market.

Interest in this direction continues to grow alongside the tourism industry as a whole. In the first five months of 2026, Uzbekistan received over 5.3 million foreign tourists. The most notable growth in tourist flow was recorded from Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Turkey. According to industry representatives, a significant portion of foreign guests show interest specifically in pilgrimage tourism sites.

Source: podrobno.uz