National Geographic Publishes In-Depth Feature on Uzbekistan’s Tourism Potential

The international edition of National Geographic has published an extensive feature on Uzbekistan, highlighting the country’s tourism potential, historic cities, architectural heritage, and the ongoing development of its tourism infrastructure. The article was written by renowned American writer Gary Shteyngart, who travelled across Uzbekistan and shared his personal perspective on Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara.

The author’s focus extends beyond the world-famous heritage of the Silk Road to explore how modern Uzbekistan is transforming this legacy into the foundation for a new tourism offering.

Shteyngart begins his journey in Tashkent, which serves as his introduction to contemporary Uzbekistan. One of his first stops is the famous Chorsu Bazaar, known for its distinctive blue dome and numerous trading rows.

“I chose Tashkent’s Chorsu Bazaar as my first stop, figuring there was probably no place that better captured, and perhaps also dispelled some of the myths surrounding, the spirit of the Silk Road. Its Soviet-era pavilion stands on a site where a market has existed for some 2,000 years and still embodies what the Silk Road has always been about: trade.”

Samarkand, one of Uzbekistan’s principal historic centres, occupies a prominent place in the article.

“If you’ve ever seen pictures of Uzbekistan, you’ve probably seen the majestic blue-turquoise-yellow portals of the three madrasas surrounding the famed Registan Square. Their incredibly ornate gates lead into former educational institutions that once earned Samarkand the nickname the Oxford of the East,” the author notes.

Bukhara is the second major historic centre featured in the journey. The author draws attention to the compactness and integrity of the city’s historic centre, noting that modern development has had less impact on its historic urban environment.

Among the highlights are the Ark Fortress, the historic centre of Bukhara, and the Kalyan Mosque with its iconic brick minaret.

An important feature of the publication is that the author does not limit his portrayal of Uzbekistan to ancient monuments and Silk Road cities.

The article also explores modern tourism infrastructure, hotels, transportation, gastronomy, markets, and emerging tourism experiences.

The feature presents Uzbekistan to an international audience through the personal experience of a traveller, portraying the country as a destination where rich historical heritage, ancient architecture, culture, gastronomy, and a rapidly developing tourism infrastructure come together.

At the same time, the publication goes beyond the traditional landmarks of the Silk Road and highlights the changes taking place in Uzbekistan’s modern tourism industry.

According to the author, Uzbekistan’s tourism sector is experiencing rapid growth. He cites approximately 12 million international travellers in the previous year, compared with around two million a decade earlier. He also highlights the country’s ambitious goal of reaching 20 million tourists by 2030.

The National Geographic feature is particularly valuable from an international tourism promotion perspective, as it presents Uzbekistan not simply through individual attractions, but through a comprehensive travel experience.

The author positions Uzbekistan as a distinctive Central Asian country that has chosen a clear and recognisable brand to promote its tourism potential.

“Every country has its myths and images that it sells to tourists: cowboys for the United States, bullfighting for Spain, sausages for Germany. So it’s only natural that a developing country like Uzbekistan would seek to leverage its historical heritage, slapping the words ‘Silk Road’ and images of camel caravans on everything from passenger trains to shopping malls in order to attract affluent tourists.”

Publications of this kind in leading international media contribute to strengthening Uzbekistan’s global image as one of the region’s most promising and attractive tourism destinations.