Reports UZBEKISTAN MARKET REPORT


Sporting Chance Uzbekistan


With gambling banned for


years, Uzbekistan is teetering on the brink of change with a tangible new decree to


introduce sports betting to the nation.


Once closed off to tourists Uzbekistan is fast becoming a popular destination offering a blend of old and new culture.


Traditionally there have been around six million tourists annually to Uzbekistan. Tis dropped to 1.5 million after Covid whilst in 2022 figures jumped back up to around 5.2 million. Te majority of these come from neighbouring countries. It is anticipated the number of international tourists to the country this year will top seven million whilst domestic tourism will see 12 million. Revenues from tourism amounted to US$1.61bn in 2022 compared to $951m in 2019.


Several measures have been taken recently to foster a ‘barrier free tourism’ policy. In May 2022 the country set up a visa-free regime which means 93 countries can travel visa-free whilst there is an e-visa system for 57 countries including the US. Te goal is to see nine million foreign tourists by 2025 and grow the $1bn in tourism revenue back in 2018 to $2.2bn.


Tere has been $100m allocated to improve infrastructure and the hope of attracting global hotel brands and increasing the total number of rooms from 20,200 to 64,000 by 2025.


Accor opened its first hotel in the country late P146 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS


last year. Te Mercure Tashkent offers 126 rooms, spa and meeting and event venues whilst IHG Hotels and Resort opened a luxury InterContinental hotel in Tashkent in June with 216 rooms. Deutsche Hospitality is also planning an Intercity Hotel in the capital this year with 122 rooms.


Tere are 66 new hotels planned for the capital plus 12 shopping and entertainment centres and nine parks. ‘Green corridors’ at train stations have also been created alongside an electronic registration system for visitors. Te restrictions on currency exchange have also been lifted.


Airports are being modernised. Uzbekistan Airports separated from Uzbekistan Airways in 2019 and controls the country’s 11 international airports. Previously Uzbekistan Airways was the only airline in the Uzbek market with 100 per cent state support maintaining a monopoly situation.


New air routes are also being developed with at least 10 international flights a day and a Travel to Uzbekistan programme with a cash-back system was launched last year to reimburse some costs for domestic travellers. Uzbekistan Airports established its Silk Avia airline earlier this year to meet the expanding domestic tourism demand with low-cost prices.


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