Malaysian travellers to Uzbekistan double in 2026

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of travellers from Malaysia to Uzbekistan nearly doubled to 10,500 in the first eight months of 2026, from 5,300 in the same period last year, indicating growing interest in the Central Asian country as a tourist destination.

At the same time, more than 16,000 Uzbek citizens visited Malaysia in the first half of 2026, a 62 per cent increase from the same period last year, according to the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Kuala Lumpur.

"Thanks to the efforts of the leaders of both countries, bilateral relations between Uzbekistan and Malaysia are consistently developing on the basis of the principles of friendship, mutual trust and respect," the embassy said in a statement on Tuesday.

During the official visit by the President of Uzbekistan to Malaysia on Feb 4 and 5, 2025, both sides agreed to promote Uzbekistan's pilgrimage tourism potential in Malaysia and further increase tourist flows between the two countries.

"There is enormous potential for expanding ties in the tourism sector, which will bring economic benefits and promote cultural exchange.

"An important step in strengthening tourism links between Uzbekistan and Malaysia has been the introduction of a visa-free regime for citizens of both countries, valid for up to 30 days," the embassy said.

The embassy said the historical and cultural ties between Uzbekistan and Malaysia also contributed to tourism cooperation.

Both countries are part of the Islamic world and share a rich Islamic cultural heritage, it said, noting that Uzbekistan's historic cities, including Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, were ancient centres of Islamic culture and learning.

"They attract Muslim tourists from all over the world, including from Malaysia," it added.

The embassy said improved air connectivity was among the key factors contributing to the increase in tourist arrivals, with Uzbekistan Airways and Batik Air operating direct flights on the Kuala Lumpur-Tashkent-Kuala Lumpur route.

Since Dec 14, 2025, Batik Air has also operated a weekly direct flight between Langkawi and Tashkent.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has made widespread efforts to develop Muslim-friendly infrastructure, including new prayer spaces, as well as halal hotels and restaurants, the embassy said.

It noted that Samarkand and Bukhara, both major spiritual and historical centres, had attracted tourist groups from Malaysia.

The embassy said Samarkand had stood at the crossroads of civilisations for more than 2,700 years, serving as one of the most important cultural, commercial and intellectual centres along the Great Silk Road.

In March 2026, the Uzbekistan Government opened the Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex, which has the capacity to host up to 65,000 visitors daily, up from 12,000 previously.

The site is known as the final resting place of Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari (810-870 CE), the pre-eminent scholar of Hadith.

The embassy said the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan was actively cooperating with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia.

In 2026, dozens of mutual visits by tourism and culture delegations from Uzbekistan and Malaysia took place.

Between January and August 2026, delegations from the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, Religious Affairs, the Samarkand Regional Government, Syrdarya Regional Government and Fergana Regional Government, as well as Uzbek businesses and travel companies, visited Malaysia as part of efforts to promote tourism and trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Uzbek tourism and cultural delegations also participated in the April and September editions of the MAtta Fair Kuala Lumpur in 2026, as well as the Matta Muslim Friendly Fair held on July 4 and 5.

Meanwhile, citing the Tourism Committee's report, the embassy said the number of foreign tourists visiting Uzbekistan reached 9.1 million from January to August 2026, up 21.1 per cent from the same period last year.

In 2025, the country recorded 11.7 million international visitors, up from 10.2 million in 2024.