Photo: yuz.uz
Based on January–March 2026 figures, Uzbekistan has become one of the world leaders in tourism growth. During the reporting period, the country received 37%37% more foreign visitors than in the first quarter of last year, according to a report by the World Tourism Organization, UN Tourism.
Uzbekistan ranked among the top five destinations for growth in international arrivals, sharing the position with Palau, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, which also recorded a 37%37% increase in inbound tourism.
The leading destinations were:
- Paraguay: +46%+46%
- New Caledonia: +45%+45%
- El Salvador: +43%+43%
- Mongolia: +39%+39%
In terms of revenue from international visitors, the UN Tourism report said only a few countries posted double-digit growth. They included Pakistan (+60%)(+60%), South Korea (+38%)(+38%), Morocco (+24%)(+24%), Brunei (+22%)(+22%), and Brazil (+12%)(+12%).
Overall, around 307307 million people made international trips in the first quarter of this year, up 2%2% from January–March 2025. Against that global backdrop, Uzbekistan’s 37%37% increase looks particularly strong.
According to the report’s authors, international tourist arrivals were up 2.5%2.5% at the start of the year, but the conflict in the Middle East, which began on February 2828, had a sharply negative impact on the sector. In March, growth remained positive but slowed to just 0.4%0.4%.
The disruption went beyond the suspension of air links, which complicated travel to countries in the region, where foreign arrivals fell by 14%14%. The armed confrontation involving Iran, the United States, and Israel drove up oil prices and caused shortages of aviation fuel. As a result, airfares rose and flight capacity declined.
“The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is disrupting tourist flows far beyond the region itself, including through rising inflation, especially in the transport and accommodation sectors. The situation is putting pressure on travelers, businesses, and tourist destinations. <…> This confirms the broader role of tourism in supporting the economy, creating opportunities, and preserving local communities far beyond the sector itself,” UN Tourism Secretary-General Sheikha Al-Nuwais said.
Given the tense geopolitical environment, experts now offer a cautious outlook. While tourism flows had previously been expected to grow by a solid 3%3%–4%4% in 2026, the forecast has now been cut by 11–22 percentage points. At the same time, most experts expect North America to lead the ranking in June and July, as the FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is likely to attract large numbers of fans from around the world.
