Central Asia Becomes the World's Fastest-Growing Tourism Region
Uzbekistan
Central Asia recorded the world's fastest tourism growth in 2025, with Uzbekistan accounting for nearly half of the region's tourism exports, according to the June report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), prepared in partnership with Oxford Economics.
The report shows that the travel and tourism sector's total contribution to Central Asia's GDP increased by 17.7% in real terms, while its direct contribution rose by 19.6%. Visitor exports reached $9.9 billion, marking a 26.4% increase. Central Asia ranked first globally across all three indicators among the 28 regions covered by the study.
Uzbekistan generated nearly 50% of the region's tourism exports and emerged as the most popular destination for travelers from within Central Asia. It accounted for 25% of all regional trips, followed by Kazakhstan (23%), Kyrgyzstan (18%), Russia (16%) and Türkiye (6%).
According to WTTC, international visitors generated 64.3% of total tourism spending in the region in 2025, while domestic tourism represented 35.7%. Leisure travel accounted for 84.5% of foreign visitor expenditure, compared with 15.5% for business travel.
WTTC projects that by 2036, the travel and tourism sector will contribute $29.7 billion to Central Asia's economy. The study, prepared jointly with Oxford Economics, is based on the internationally recognized Tourism Satellite Account (TSA: RMF 2008) methodology approved by the United Nations Statistics Division and covers 184 economies and 28 global regions.
Uzbekistan generated nearly 50% of the region's tourism exports and emerged as the most popular destination for travelers from within Central Asia. It accounted for 25% of all regional trips, followed by Kazakhstan (23%), Kyrgyzstan (18%), Russia (16%) and Türkiye (6%).
According to WTTC, international visitors generated 64.3% of total tourism spending in the region in 2025, while domestic tourism represented 35.7%. Leisure travel accounted for 84.5% of foreign visitor expenditure, compared with 15.5% for business travel.
WTTC projects that by 2036, the travel and tourism sector will contribute $29.7 billion to Central Asia's economy. The study, prepared jointly with Oxford Economics, is based on the internationally recognized Tourism Satellite Account (TSA: RMF 2008) methodology approved by the United Nations Statistics Division and covers 184 economies and 28 global regions.
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