According to the Cultural Heritage Agency, a total of 6.1 million domestic and foreign tourists visited 114 state museums across Uzbekistan in 2025, representing a 12.5% increase compared with the same period in 2024.

Museum attendance over the past five years has fluctuated. In 2020, visits fell to 1.5 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The figure rebounded to 5.1 million in 2021 and rose to a record 6.5 million in 2022. Visitor numbers then declined to 5.7 million in 2023 and to 4.8 million in 2024, before recovering to 6.1 million in 2025.

The recovery of tourism after the pandemic, the resumption of flights by foreign airlines, simplified visa requirements, and reforms aimed at improving the country’s international image have been key factors driving growth in the sector. The organization of international exhibitions and cultural events has also contributed to the increase in visitor numbers.

Most visited museums

In 2025, the most visited museums were again located in historic cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva.

The Samarkand State Museum-Reserve ranked first, welcoming 1,145,595 visitors. The Registan Ensemble followed closely with 1,136,069 visitors, while the Bukhara State Museum-Reserve placed third with 851,714 visitors.

The Ichan-Qala State Museum-Reserve was visited by 476,592 people during the year, while the Shahrisabz State Museum-Reserve welcomed 185,604 visitors. These figures indicate that historic cities along the ancient Silk Road continue to rank among the most attractive tourist destinations.

The year 2025 also marked significant progress in the digitalization of the museum sector. The number of museum artifacts and collections with electronic identification reached 500,000. In addition, 301 cultural heritage sites were digitized, and 360-degree images of 217 museums and heritage sites were uploaded to a unified information database. These developments enable foreign tourists planning to visit Uzbekistan to explore museums in advance and take virtual tours.

International recognition

The World Tourism Forum Institute recognized the reforms implemented in Uzbekistan’s tourism sector by awarding the country the title of Best Cultural Tourism Destination of 2025. In addition, a United Nations tourism report listed Uzbekistan among the world’s top seven countries with the fastest-growing tourist flows.

According to the Tourism Committee, more than 10.7 million foreign tourists visited Uzbekistan by November 2025. Notably, in April 2025, the country recorded its first-ever month with more than one million foreign tourist arrivals. Over the past nine months, 8.6 million foreign tourists chose Uzbekistan as their travel destination.