In recent years, Central Asia has shown steady growth in the tourism sector. About the current state, problems, and prospects for the development of the industry in the region’s countries – in the material of Kazinform’s own correspondent.
Growth Indicators
Central Asia is experiencing a real tourism boom. In 2024, the region was visited by 28.6 million foreign tourists — a record figure in the entire history of observations. The success is explained not only by natural and cultural wealth but also by the active efforts of countries to develop the industry.
In the first half of 2025, Kazakhstan was visited by 7.5 million foreign tourists, of which 5 million stayed in the country for more than a day.
For the whole of 2024, this figure was 15.3 million people.
The total income of tourist facilities reached 151 billion tenge, which is 25% more than the previous year. The most tourists came from China, India, Turkey, Germany, and South Korea.
In Kyrgyzstan, the popularity of ecotourism and active recreation is growing, especially among travelers from Europe and Asia.
In January–June 2025, the country was visited by almost 5 million foreigners (for the whole of 2024 — 8.86 million). Almost 90% of tourists arrived from Central Asian countries, mainly from Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan is strengthening its position as a center of cultural tourism. Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva remain the most popular destinations. According to the National Committee for Statistics of the Republic of Uzbekistan, from January to August 2025, the country was visited by 7.5 million foreign tourists, which is 49% more than the previous year. The main flow comes from neighboring countries: Kyrgyzstan — 2.1 million people, Kazakhstan — 1.76 million, Tajikistan — 1.7 million. The growth is associated with visa regime liberalization and active promotion of historical heritage.
Tajikistan is betting on historical and cultural tourism. In the first six months of 2025, the country was visited by 761 thousand foreign tourists, which is 181 thousand more than the previous year. Most tourists are citizens of CIS countries (about 700 thousand), however, the number of guests from far abroad is also growing — almost 60 thousand people.
Tourism expert Maksat Usubaliev notes a noticeable growth in tourism sector indicators in Central Asian countries. According to him, the positive dynamics is due to the reduction of bureaucratic barriers and the activation of marketing campaigns, which has increased the region’s attractiveness for international travelers.
— Each Central Asian country has its strengths and specifics in developing the tourism sector. Today, there is active promotion of the region on external markets, and this is already yielding noticeable results. Central Asia is becoming increasingly attractive to tourists from far abroad. At the same time, high mutual tourist exchange between our states is maintained. Thus, in 2024, Kyrgyzstan was visited by about 9 million foreign citizens, of which 80% are tourists from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, — he noted.
The expert also noted that one of the key factors in the growth of tourist flow was the improvement of the visa policy of the region’s countries.
— In Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, the visa policy has noticeably liberalized. The list of countries whose citizens are allowed visa-free access to the region is expanding and gradually synchronizing. This is a good example of integration in such a sensitive area for tourism, — said Maksat Usubaliev.
Contribution to the Economy and Investments
Central Asian countries are actively investing in the development of their tourism sector, emphasizing both domestic and foreign investments.
In Kyrgyzstan, from 2021 to 2024, more than $138.5 million in direct foreign investments (excluding outflows) were attracted to the tourism sector. The largest investment figure was in 2022 — $49.8 million. The main investors from CIS countries in the tourism sector remain Russia ($7.6 million) and Kazakhstan ($4.235 million). Among other countries, the UAE ($32.077 million) and China ($10.173 million) stand out.
The share of tourism in the country’s GDP is steadily growing, reaching 4.3% (30.2 billion som) in the first half of 2025. Investments in fixed capital for the construction of tourist facilities reached 11.3 billion som, which is 2.5 times more than in the same period of 2024. The main funds were directed to the construction and reconstruction of roads, hotels, boarding houses, and trade facilities.
Role of UNESCO Heritage Sites
UNESCO heritage sites in Central Asia play a key role in attracting tourists and shaping the image of the region as a unique cultural and natural destination.
Kyrgyzstan is represented by:
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