China and Uzbekistan are moving tourism cooperation to a new level, using a recent bilateral forum to link deeper cultural exchange with concrete investment opportunities in hospitality, resort development and modern tourism infrastructure.
Tourism becomes a strategic bridge between China and Uzbekistan
During the event, experts and business leaders from both countries focused on expanding tourist flows, developing joint routes and launching new investment projects in the tourism sector. Tourism was officially placed among the key areas of the forum agenda, underlining its strategic role in the wider economic partnership between China and Uzbekistan.
The Uzbek delegation was led by the chairperson of the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Abduzaziz Akkulov, and included more than forty leading travel companies, representatives of tourist and recreational zones, operators of major tourist complexes and airlines. Their participation turned the forum into a practical marketplace for discussing real projects, rather than just policy declarations.
At the close of the forum, B2B meetings brought together over two hundred representatives of the tourism industry from both sides. These sessions were aimed at expanding cooperation, increasing tourist flows and promoting Uzbekistan’s investment potential, laying the groundwork for specific joint ventures and long-term partnerships.
Hospitality and resort infrastructure in focus
In his keynote address, the head of the Uzbek delegation proposed a series of measures tailored to the interests of Chinese tourists and investors. These include expanding existing tourist routes for Chinese travelers, developing new itineraries that connect China’s provinces with Uzbekistan’s historic and resort destinations, and supporting the opening of mid and high segment hotels with the participation of Chinese hotel brands.
The forum highlighted the development of resort zones and sanatoriums, as well as facilities for family and active recreation. These projects are expected to require substantial investment in construction, renovation, landscaping and service infrastructure, creating room for foreign partners with expertise in hotel development, spa and wellness facilities, leisure complexes and integrated resort management.
Additional initiatives put forward include the creation of thematic parks, the promotion of business tourism — MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) — and the attraction of major international events. This signals a clear intention to build modern conference centers, exhibition venues and large-scale entertainment and cultural spaces that can host regional and global business gatherings.
Regional tourism products showcased to Chinese partners
To demonstrate the breadth of opportunities, Uzbekistan presented the tourism potential of its regions. The historic and cultural heritage of Bukhara was showcased as a core destination for cultural and pilgrimage tourism. Kashkadarya Region highlighted its ecotourism potential, positioning natural landscapes and outdoor activities as a complement to the country’s famous historical routes.
Samarkand was presented in the context of its significance for world civilization, reinforcing its status as a flagship stop on modern Silk Road itineraries. Tashkent and Tashkent Region demonstrated their contemporary tourism offerings — from urban leisure and shopping to modern accommodation and entertainment infrastructure — showing Chinese partners that Uzbekistan can combine heritage tourism with a dynamic urban experience.
Specific sites and complexes also came under the spotlight. Delegates were introduced to tourist complexes such as Miraki and Arda Khiva, ecotourism opportunities in the Aydarkul area, and the mountain ski resort Amirsoy Mountain Resort. These examples illustrate the diversity of projects currently open to foreign investors, ranging from eco-lodges and lakeside resorts to high-altitude ski and adventure destinations.
Integration with broader China–Uzbekistan economic initiatives
The tourism dialogue is unfolding against the backdrop of broader economic and regulatory steps taken by both countries. A mutual visa-free regime for short-term visits has been agreed, removing a key barrier for mass tourism and facilitating frequent business travel between China and Uzbekistan. This measure is expected to support the targeted growth in Chinese visitor numbers and make it easier for Chinese investors and project managers to oversee their ventures on the ground.
In parallel, the two sides are preparing national tourism promotion campaigns, including a dedicated Year of Tourism for Uzbekistan in China, along with joint marketing efforts on major Chinese travel platforms. Uzbekistan has also opened a tourist office in Beijing to strengthen its presence on the Chinese market, promote the national tourism brand and coordinate investment contacts in a more systematic way.
Chinese capital is already entering the sector through multiple projects. In the first half of the current investment cycle, dozens of tourism initiatives involving Chinese investors are being implemented in Uzbekistan, with funding directed to hotel construction, tourist infrastructure, thematic parks and joint tour products. At the same time, airlines are working on expanding regular and charter connections between major tourist cities in both countries, which will be vital for the success of new routes and resort developments.
The idea of integrated routes such as the corridor linking China’s regions with Uzbekistan’s historic cities is gaining traction. These initiatives combine transport, tourism and regional development, encouraging provincial authorities and private operators to co-invest in facilities that make cross-border trips more comfortable and attractive for Chinese travelers.
Why this matters for international furniture and construction companies
For international businesses in furniture, construction, interiors, design and architecture, the growing tourism partnership between China and Uzbekistan is more than a diplomatic success story — it is an emerging project pipeline. Plans to open mid and high segment hotels with Chinese brands, expand resort and sanatorium infrastructure, develop thematic parks and build modern MICE facilities will drive sustained demand for hotel construction, refurbishment, public space design and fit-out services.
New resorts around lakes and mountains, upgrades of historic city centers for tourism, and expansion of urban leisure zones in Tashkent and other hubs will require high-quality furniture, outdoor and indoor furnishings, lighting solutions, flooring, façade materials and bespoke interior concepts. International suppliers and designers who position themselves early in Uzbekistan’s market — and align with Chinese and Uzbek operators — stand to benefit from a multi-year wave of tourism-led investments across hospitality, leisure and mixed-use construction projects.
