Mirziyoyev: Uzbekistan welcomes nearly 1 mln Russian tourists in 2025

MOSCOW. June 5 (Interfax) - Uzbekistan welcomed nearly a million Russian tourists in 2025, and expects even more this year, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on Friday.

"Tourism best creates an economy of trust. When people come to Uzbekistan, they see not only monuments and cities, but also culture, hospitality, a business environment, and business opportunities. In 2025, we welcomed nearly a million Russians. This year, we are ready to welcome even more," he said at a plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

Mirziyoyev added that to achieve this, Uzbekistan is developing not only its tourism infrastructure but also its creative economy.

"By 2030, its share will reach 5% of GDP, turning this creative sector into a driver of economic growth. To strengthen the cultural and humanitarian dimension of our cooperation, we propose launching a project of a creative tourism corridor from Samarkand to St. Petersburg," he said.

This initiative implies arranging joint art and film festivals, museum exhibitions, gastronomic weeks, and musical events, Mirziyoyev said.