Umid Shadiyev, Chairman of the Tourism Committee, reported that Uzbekistan saw nearly 7 million tourists arrive from abroad in 2023. The announcement came during the opening ceremony of the VII "Uzbekistan Guides Forum" on February 21, Gazeta.uz reported.

It was emphasized that the average duration of stay for tourists in Uzbekistan extended to approximately four days, 1.3 times more than in the previous year.

"In the last two years, apart from neighboring countries, the influx of tourists from Arab states and China has increased by at least fourfold," said the committee chairman.

He noted that based on the "Travel Across Uzbekistan!" program in 2023, 21 million local tourists visited different regions in the country.

"According to our analyses, last year saw the creation of 810 new tour operators and travel agencies. Also, 70,000 new jobs were created in tourism and its related sectors. Additionally, 183 new hotels, 215 hostels, and 356 family guest houses started their work. The accommodation facilities increased by 5,477, with a total of 142,720 spots available," said Umid Shadiyev.

Earlier, the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, Aziz Abduhakimov, stressed that Uzbekistan is expecting 10 million foreign tourists in 2024, and independent international organizations have appraised the development of tourism in the country as stable.