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What We Learned About Uzbekistan’s Tourism Future at the Silk Road Tourism Fair 2025

Australia’s Muslim Cameleers

Angelica Hazel Toutounji is an Australian freelance travel writer published in The National and other lifestyle platforms. Based in South Australia, she writes about family travel, cultural identity and meaningful destination experiences through a personal lens. A wife, mother and proud Muslim convert, she enjoys exploring different cultures, discovering local cuisines and visiting mosques around the world. She is also the host of the travel podcast The Travel Date, where she shares personal travel stories and conversations about global journeys.

Halal Travel Pal (HTP) at Silk Road Tourism Fair (Tashkent, 28 to 30 November 2025)

Team HTP attended the Silk Road Tourism Fair in Tashkent to understand how Central Asia is preparing for its next stage of tourism growth. It was an opportunity to meet tourism officials, tour operators, hotel teams and local businesses who are working with real commitment to welcome a larger and more diverse group of international travellers.

A few insights stood out from our conversations and from what we regularly see in our own community:

1. Uzbekistan is opening up with confidence

Many people we met highlighted their pride in local culture, heritage and human capital. They see their people and their history as key strengths that can attract visitors from around the world.

2. Infrastructure and visitor experience are improving rapidly

Tourism numbers reflect this momentum. Recent figures show that about 8.2 million foreign tourists visited in 2024, compared to around 6.6 million in 2023. This growth is supported by improvements in transport, accommodation and overall accessibility for travellers.

3. Families want practical information, not assumptions

From our HTP community, we regularly see questions from GCC and UK travellers asking how easy it is to move around, whether it is family friendly, how clear halal food options are and how safe it feels on the ground.
Travellers who recently visited through HTP shared very positive comments. They described the country as welcoming, safe and easy to navigate, with helpful locals and a very family friendly environment. This real time feedback gives us a good sense of how travellers actually experience the country.

4. There is genuine interest in collaboration

Several operators and hotels asked how HTP gathers real traveller feedback and how it supports families planning new destinations. Many were open to sharing verified information about services, facilities and local experiences. This kind of transparent exchange can help families make confident travel decisions.

I believe there is a strong opportunity for tourism boards, hotels and private operators to work more closely with platforms that are directly connected to real travellers. Verified insights on both sides can strengthen trust and highlight the true potential of destinations like Uzbekistan.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to meet. Your hospitality and openness made this visit meaningful for us and for the travellers who rely on HTP for practical guidance.

If you are working in Uzbekistan tourism or in the wider Central Asia region and want to understand what Muslim travellers look for when planning holidays, we are always open to conversations.

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