Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan and Türkiye have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation and an Action Plan to enhance bilateral tourism collaboration.

The documents were signed by Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, and Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye.

During a meeting in Ankara, the two sides discussed prospects for expanding cooperation. Aziz Abdukhakimov highlighted Uzbekistan’s recent achievements in tourism, made possible by the initiatives of the leaders of both nations.

"We aim to expand routes and connect Uzbekistan’s tourist destinations with key Turkish cities—İzmir, Muğla, Fethiye, Alanya, Adana, Bursa, and others. To fully unlock our potential, we need to triple the number of flights," he emphasized.

In 2024, Uzbekistan welcomed over 149,000 tourists from Türkiye, a 3.5-fold increase compared to 2018. Meanwhile, the number of Uzbek tourists visiting Türkiye nearly reached 230,000 in 2024.

The meeting also introduced initiatives to increase air connectivity, promote tourism opportunities, launch the “Million+Million” program (targeting one million tourists in each country), and organize cultural events and exhibitions.

Mehmet Nuri Ersoy supported Uzbekistan’s proposals, emphasizing that Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva are globally significant cultural heritage sites.

"With its rich history and cultural treasures, Uzbekistan is one of the world’s most important tourist destinations," he stated.

In the next two years, 11 hotel complexes worth US$167.9 million will be developed with Turkish investments in Bukhara, Samarkand, Jizzakh, Fergana, and Tashkent regions.

Experts believe that this tourism partnership will open new opportunities for travelers and further strengthen the cultural and economic ties between Uzbekistan and Türkiye.