Uzbekistan is accelerating its push to become a regional tourism powerhouse with a major new development project taking shape in Surkhandarya. The construction of the Sangardak tourism center — one of three flagship projects transforming the southern region’s tourism landscape — is now in full swing, with crews completing foundational work on the complex’s signature cable car infrastructure.
Spanning 615 hectares in the Saryasiy District, the Sangardak project represents a massive undertaking valued at 913.3 billion sums. The venture combines tourism attractions, hospitality services, dining, and retail in a single integrated complex designed to draw both domestic and international visitors to one of Uzbekistan’s most scenic mountain regions.
Infrastructure and amenities taking shape
The project will feature extensive hospitality and dining infrastructure — 21 restaurants, cafes, and bars will serve visitors, while the accommodation side includes four three-star hotels, two five-star properties, and 10 guest houses alongside a health sanatorium. Retail operations will be equally prominent, with nearly 300 retail points spread across the complex. On the entertainment front, a 1.6-kilometer cable car will connect different elevation levels, complemented by zipline facilities and dedicated picnic zones that capitalize on the region’s mountain geography.
Construction work is proceeding at an accelerated pace. Builders have already completed the concrete work for cable car supports and the system’s starting platform, setting the stage for equipment installation and further development phases.
Part of broader regional development push
The Sangardak center is part of a coordinated regional development strategy. Uzbekistan’s government is simultaneously developing two additional tourism zones in Surkhandarya — Obikhaiot and Omonkhona — across a combined 945 hectares. The regional initiative aims to capitalize on Surkhandarya’s natural advantages: stunning mountain scenery, historically significant sites including the ancient city of Termez, and growing reputation as a trekking and nature tourism destination.
Local authorities have established a specialized management directorate to oversee these three tourism zones, handling land sales through online auctions and coordinating overall project execution. Land plots are available on long-term payment plans of up to 10 years, creating pathways for private operators and hospitality companies to participate in the development. The three zones are targeted for completion by 2027.
Opportunity for international investors
For international hotel and hospitality operators, construction companies, retail specialists, and tourism service providers, this project signals concrete expansion opportunities in a Central Asian market making tangible infrastructure investments. The Sangardak complex represents the kind of large-scale mixed-use development where international expertise in hotel management, retail operations, and tourism marketing can add immediate value. The financing mechanisms in place — including bank participation and staggered payment options for land — remove traditional barriers to entry for foreign investors considering the Central Asian market. As Uzbekistan consolidates its position as a regional tourism destination, projects like Sangardak create genuine pathways for international business to establish or expand operations in emerging markets showing real momentum in hospitality and tourism infrastructure development.
