Uzbekistan, South Korea Deepen Ties to Boost Tourism Exchange

Tashkent (GNP): Uzbekistan and South Korea are moving to expand cooperation in tourism as the Central Asian country records a sharp rise in international arrivals and growing interest from Korean travellers. Uzbekistan welcomed around 7.75 million foreign tourists between January and July 2026, a 22.6 percent increase over the same period last year, with tourism service exports reaching approximately 3.9 billion dollars during that time.

South Korea remains one of Uzbekistan’s leading long haul markets, ranking third by tourist numbers in the January to July period behind only China and Turkey, with 26,500 Korean arrivals recorded. The figure already exceeds pre-pandemic levels, building on a steady climb from 35,500 Korean visitors in 2019 to 41,300 in 2024 and 46,300 in 2025, a rise of nearly a third since before the pandemic.

Behind the growth lie practical changes that have made travel between the two countries easier. Korean citizens have benefited from a 30 day visa free regime since February 2018, and direct flights now connect the two countries, together making trips considerably more accessible. Officials say accessibility alone is not enough, however, and that a stronger presence in the Korean tourism market, through tour operators, clear itineraries and destination promotion, is needed to convert interest into visits.

Direct engagement between the tourism industries of both countries has become a growing focus as a result. In October 2024, the Uzbek Korean Tourism Forum in Seoul brought together more than 100 industry representatives, with Uzbekistan presenting its cultural heritage and tourism potential while local tour operators and airlines showcased routes for the Korean market.

That cooperation is set to deepen through closer engagement with the Korea Association of Travel Agents, with joint promotional events under discussion alongside efforts to draw Korean companies into the Tashkent International Tourism Fair.

Service quality has also emerged as a priority area, with officials noting a shortage of guides who speak Korean and understand the expectations of Korean travellers, prompting plans to expand specialist training.

Uzbekistan is looking to South Korea not only as a source of tourists but as a partner in developing the sector itself, with discussions under way alongside the Korea International Cooperation Agency on bringing Korean experts into Uzbek tourism education institutions and organising training programmes in both countries. A proposal to open a Korean language and culture centre at the International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage Silk Road in Samarkand is also being considered.

Also Read: COMSATS Islamabad Hosts Frames of Freedom Photography Exhibition

This professional exchange is already under way, with Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee taking part in the KOPIST High Level Tourism Policy Forum organised by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in May, and an Uzbek project placing first at the KOPIST 2026 tourism project presentation in June.

The cooperation builds on an intergovernmental tourism agreement in place since 2012, with both sides now proposing a separate agreement between their tourism agencies alongside a dedicated action plan to increase exchange, reflecting a shift toward more coordinated, service focused engagement between the two countries.

A senior Uzbek Tourism Committee official said, “Uzbekistan needs specialists who speak the language and better understand Korean guests’ needs.”