UZBEKISTAN’S TOURISM POTENTIAL AND ITS ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY

Аннотация

Today, Uzbekistan stands among the oldest and most attractive tourist destinations in Central Asia, drawing thousands of domestic and international travelers annually. Historical landmarks in cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, opportunities in eco-tourism, and the development of modern infrastructure are turning the tourism sector into one of the driving forces of economic growth. This article analyzes the tourism potential of the Republic of Uzbekistan based on its natural, cultural, historical, and economic resources, and highlights both thedirect and indirect impacts oftourism onthenational economy. Keywords: tourism export, service facilities, “calling card,” promotional videos, international brands, touroperators. Uzbekistan — a modern tourism destination in the cradle of ancient civilizations. With its rich cultural heritage, historical and architectural monuments, diverse natural climate, and modern infrastructure, Uzbekistan is attracting growing international attention. The country lies at the heart of the ancient Silk Road, which for centuries served as a bridge between East and West, traversed by merchants, travelers, geographers, missionaries, and conquerors. Today, Uzbekistan has become one of the most attractive destinations for tourists who value history, culture, and traditions. Architectural monuments preserved from ancient times to the present day are regarded as a source of national pride. Notably, sites such as Ichan-Qala in Khiva, the historic center of Bukhara, and the cities of Shahrisabz and Samarkand are listed on UNESCO’s WorldHeritage List. Following its independence, Uzbekistan began to shape its tourism sector as one of the key branches of socio-economic development. Today, tourism is seen as a multifaceted sector that helps shape the country’s global image, attract foreign investment, create jobs, and stimulate numerous sectors of the domestic economy. In addition, Uzbekistan boasts a wide variety of natural landscapes, climate zones, and areas suitable for ecological tourism. Mountain resorts, desert landscapes, and ancient sites along the Amu Darya and Zarafshan rivers provide excellent opportunities for the development of eco and extreme tourism. The government of Uzbekistan has designated tourism as a strategic sector of the national economy and has been systematically implementing reforms to support its development. In recent years, under presidential decrees and resolutions, substantial efforts have been made to improve tourism infrastructure, introduce more visitor-friendly visa procedures, and modernize local service systems. Since 2019, a visa-free regime has been introduced for citizens of many countries, and an electronic visa system has been developed and launched. These measures led to a sharp increase in the number of foreign touristsvisitingUzbekistan. Forinstance, by theend of 2023,the number ofinternational visitors surpassed 7million—exceedingly evenpre-pandemic figures. https://ijmri.de/index.php/jmsi volume 4,issue5,2025 521 Appendix 1: "Export of Tourism Services in Uzbekistan" https://proreforms.uz/uz/publications/ozbekiston-turizmi-va-kreativ-iqtisodiyoti-yangi-yutuqlar- va-imkoniyatlar-260 Uzbekistan is experiencing rapid growth in both tourism exports and the creative economy. Last year, tourism services exports reached $3.5 billion—an increase of $1.3 billion compared to the previous year. In addition, the creative economy has entered a new phase. This year, $50 million was allocated to support startup projects in this sector. For example, Beknazar Abdukamolov, who previously worked at Amazon and returned to Nukus, attracted $3 million in investment from Facebook for his startup, which is now valued at $15 million. Moreover, the number of Uzbek professionals working at major tech companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Appleis steadily increasing. A new system will be introduced to enhance Uzbekistan's tourism potential. In particular, each region will develop its own "tourism calling card," and the tourist season will be extended. The year 2023 was declared the year of promoting Uzbekistan’s tourism potential globally, with 100 billion soums allocated for this initiative. On March 29, 2023, during a video conference dedicated to tourism development, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that just one additional day of stay by foreign tourists in Uzbekistan could increase annual tourism exports by $300 million. For instance, the average length of stay for tourists in Khorezm is two days, and their average spending is $220. Compared to Bukhara and Samarkand, Khorezm receives 2.5 times fewer foreign tourists. However, there is potential to increase their stay to 3–4 days and boost spending to $400–500. In 2022, 31 districts and 143 neighborhoods were designated as tourism zones with special tax regimes. Districts such as Forish, Urgut, Khodjeyli, Payariq, Nurata, and the city of Angren have effectively utilized these opportunities. In contrast, are