Azerbaijanis Flock to Uzbekistan's Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva

Uzbekistan sees a surge in Azerbaijani visitors, with 1,861 arriving for tourism in January 2026, up 849 from last year. Of these, 1,321 come purely for tourism, drawn to the timeless allure of Samarkand's Registan Square, Bukhara's ancient medinas, and Khiva's walled Itchan Kala. This boom reflects deepening regional ties and Uzbekistan's push to hit 12 million foreign tourists by year's end through better infrastructure and visa-free access.