BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 24. Uzbekistan sees
strong potential for developing cross-border tourism routes with
Turkmenistan, Uzbek ambassador Ravshanbek Alimov said.
According to a press release issued by the press service of the
Turkmen government, he made the remark during a tourism briefing
held at the Uzbek Embassy in Ashgabat.
“We see great prospects for creating cross-border tourist routes
with Turkmenistan, such as Khiva – Kunya Urgench – Ashgabat – Mary
– Bukhara. We invite Turkmen tour operators to actively work in
this direction. We also invite investors from Turkmenistan to
participate in projects in Uzbekistan on favorable terms,” Alimov
said.
The ambassador noted that Uzbekistan is placing particular
emphasis on developing modern tourism segments, including eco-,
pilgrimage, medical, gastronomic and business (MICE) tourism, while
also promoting regional tourism cooperation across Central
Asia.
The report notes, that the proposed cross-border route would
connect some of Central Asia’s best-known historical destinations,
including the UNESCO World Heritage cities of Khiva, Kunya Urgench,
Merv and Bukhara, combining the cultural heritage of both countries
into a single tourism product.
The planned transboundary tourism route comes as Turkmenistan
and Uzbekistan deepen efforts to make travel between the two
countries easier and to strengthen regional connectivity. Earlier
this week, Uzbek Ambassador to Turkmenistan Ravshanbek Alimov said
the two sides are working on introducing an electronic visa system,
with consular authorities currently coordinating the technical
parameters after Turkmenistan created the necessary legal framework
in 2026.
The tourism agenda is also being reinforced by broader political
cooperation. During talks in Ashgabat earlier this month, the
foreign ministers of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan reviewed joint
projects in transport, logistics, trade and cultural cooperation,
reaffirming their commitment to expanding strategic partnership and
cross-border connectivity.
The proposed Khiva–Kunya-Urgench–Ashgabat–Mary–Bukhara route
reflects a wider regional trend toward multi-country tourism
products linking the historical cities of the Silk Road. Such
initiatives are expected to increase visitor flows, encourage
longer stays and create additional opportunities for transport
operators, hotels, tour companies and cultural institutions on both
sides of the border. Combined with planned e-visa facilitation,
they could significantly improve the attractiveness of Central Asia
as a single tourism destination.
