Tourism exchanges boom between China and Central Asia

Since the first China-Central Asia Summit in 2023, tourism exchanges between China and Central Asia have grown closer, becoming a key bridge for promoting people-to-people bonds. Today, China and Central Asia are popular destinations for each other, with a clear rise in two-way tourist flows.

On June 1, a flight from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, landed at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with over 160 passengers on board. That same day, the mutual visa exemption agreement between China and Uzbekistan started to take effect, and the tourists were the first group of Uzbek travelers arriving in China under the new policy. China and Kazakhstan implemented a similar agreement on Nov. 10, 2023. These favorable policies have made travel easier and significantly boosted tourism exchanges.

"The stunning scenery and warm hospitality in Xinjiang far exceeded my expectations! The guide's detailed explanations helped me better understand the region's culture," said Natalia, a tourist from Kazakhstan, during her visit to Urumqi. This year, a steady stream of tour groups from Central Asia have been arriving in Xinjiang, with Urumqi's appeal to these travelers continuing to grow.

Data from online travel agency Ctrip shows that inbound trip orders to China from Central Asia have risen 106 percent year on year, with bookings from Uzbek tourists alone up 164 percent year on year. Meanwhile, outbound trip orders from China to Central Asia have increased 74 percent year on year, with bookings to Uzbekistan up 60 percent year on year.

According to UTour Group Co., Ltd., a company specializing in outbound tourist group tours, the number of Chinese tourists heading to Central Asia in the first half of this year doubled from last year. On travel booking platform Fliggy, flight bookings to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have risen 60 percent and 47 percent respectively since this year.

China and Central Asia are major tourism destinations for each other. Visitors from China and Central Asia are increasingly looking beyond sightseeing, seeking deeper experiences of history, culture, and daily life.

"Travelers from Central Asia are very interested in Chinese culture. This gives us new opportunities to expand in the region. We're working to make Urumqi even more attractive by offering five themed tour packages tailored to the preferences of tourists from Central Asia," said Yang Shuguo, general manager of Xinjiang Western Region International Travel Service Co., Ltd.

Han Jie, president of China Youth Travel Service (CYTS) Aoyou Technology Development Co., Ltd., noted that Kazakhstan offers abundant tourism resources, with cities like Almaty and Astana popular among Chinese travelers. Uzbekistan is also a major attraction thanks to its rich cultural heritage. At present, most Chinese tourists travel in groups, primarily retirees. However, with improved infrastructure and new experiences on offer, more young travelers are expected to follow.

The China–Central Asia tourism market is just starting to unlock its vast potential.

"We launched Central Asia tours in March 2023, just before the first China-Central Asia Summit in May of the same year. The event sparked growing interest in exploring Central Asia among Chinese tourists. The region is now our fastest-growing market," said Xu Jia, head of Sichuan China Youth Travel Service Co., Ltd.

"In the last two years, we've seen a growing number of Chinese tourists. They have strong spending power and a genuine interest in content associated with cultural and historical exchange," said Zhang Wei, head of a local tour operator in Uzbekistan.

"Tourism in Central Asia is still developing. We hope to train more Chinese-speaking guides, partner with more Chinese restaurants, add tour buses, and offer themed tours to better serve Chinese visitors," Zhang added.

Thanks to the visa-free policy, tourism and cultural exchange between China and Uzbekistan is gaining momentum. Uzbekistan has held promotional events in Chinese cities such as Beijing and Changsha this year to showcase its tourism resources and plans to further improve services for Chinese travelers.

China is one of Kazakhstan's leading sources of tourists. According to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Chinese travelers made 655,000 trips to Kazakhstan in 2024, a 78 percent increase from 2023. Kazakhstan has designated 2025 as the China tourism year and plans to host a series of promotional events across China.