By Mamuka Tsereteli

This article examines how Uzbekistan can strengthen its economic security by leveraging its extraordinary cultural heritage and strategic positioning to transition from a volume-driven tourism model towards more of a value-driven approach.  Targeted policy analysis and strategic planning for sustainable tourism development can accelerate this transformation. Global tourism experienced robust growth in 2025, with international tourist arrivals reaching 1.52 billion worldwide - a 4% increase over 2024 and a new post-pandemic record. International tourism receipts totaled an estimated $1.9 trillion, representing 5% growth year-on-year, while total export revenues from tourism (including passenger transport) reached approximately $2.2 trillion. Within this expanding global market, destinations are increasingly competing not merely for visitor numbers but for higher-value tourism segments. The most successful destinations are those that have strategically positioned themselves to attract tourists who stay longer, spend more, and engage more deeply with local cultures and communities.

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By Dmitry Shlapentokh

November 3, 2020, the CACI Analyst

After the death of President Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan’s new leadership has engaged in a transformation process structurally similar to those in the post-Stalinist USSR and post-Maoist China. Manifestations of this new reality are manifold. Some are quite visible to the public, such as the recent harsh jail term for Karimov’s daughter, accused of corruption, embezzlement, money laundering and other crimes. Other manifestations are more subtle, yet important in order to understand the new trends. In particular, a shift is underway from the emphasis of Tamerlane (Timur) as the founder of Uzbekistan to the role of Alexander the Great in the country’s antecedents.