ICTWEEK Brings Global Visitors to Tashkent and Opens a New Door for Uzbekistan Tourism

[Tashkent, September 2026] — Uzbekistan is deploying ICTWEEK 2026 as a strategic catalyst to transition the nation from an undiscovered destination into a primary hub for international business travel. The event, scheduled for September 22-25, 2026, is projected to draw 25,000 total attendees to the capital, including 2,000 international delegates, testing the city's capacity for high-volume corporate logistics.

The Ministry of Digital Technologies is overseeing the summit, which features a 15,000-square-metre exhibition space designed to link global technology firms and startups with foreign investors. The program consists of more than 20 international forums and summits. While the event focuses on digital infrastructure and IT exports, the Uzbek government is utilizing the influx of high-net-worth business travelers to validate Tashkent as a viable location for large-scale corporate events and diplomatic meetings.

The ICTWEEK Logistics Trigger

The immediate driver for this surge in travel activity is the concentration of the technology sector at the Central Asian Expo Uzbekistan (CAEx). To mitigate the risks associated with navigating an unfamiliar city, the Ministry of Digital Technologies has implemented a dedicated transport network. Free shuttle services are operating from four critical transit nodes:

• The Southern Railway Station
• The Uzbekistan Hotel
• IT Park Uzbekistan
• Buyuk Ipak Yuli metro station

These measures are intended to remove friction for the 2,000 expected foreign guests, ensuring that the "first touch" experience with Uzbekistan's infrastructure is seamless. The government's strategy is based on the premise that a positive business trip serves as the primary entry point for future leisure tourism.

Markets and Infrastructure Impact

The scale of ICTWEEK coincides with a broader, aggressive expansion of Uzbekistan's tourism sector. Data from the National Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan indicates a significant upward trend in visitor arrivals leading into the event.

Metric	Figure	Period
Foreign Tourism Arrivals	9,102,729	Jan–Aug 2026
Year-on-Year Visitor Growth	21.1%	vs Jan–Aug 2025
Tourism Services Exports	US$3.8957 billion	Jan–July 2026
Total Airport Passengers	8.15 million	Jan–June 2026
National Bed Capacity	202,600	Jan–July 2026

The primary source markets for these arrivals remain regional, with the highest volumes originating from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. However, the government is successfully diversifying its reach, with Russia and China emerging as dominant source markets.

To support this growth, the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan reports a 16% increase in total airport passenger traffic during the first half of 2026, with international flights specifically accounting for 6.7 million passengers (a 15.4% increase). New direct air corridors to Tashkent from Seoul, Shanghai, and Yerevan have been established in 2026 to facilitate easier access for East Asian and Caucasian business travelers.

Practical Traveler Advisory and Strategic Insights

For the professional traveler or digital nomad booking a trip to Tashkent for the September window, the corporate jargon translates into several practical realities:

1. Entry and Access Requirements While exhibition entry is free, the event is not an "open door" gathering. Travelers must complete online registration via the official portal to receive a digital access code. Without this code, entry to the CAEx venue is prohibited.

2. Transit Logistics The reliance on free shuttles suggests that while the city is expanding, point-to-point transport for foreigners remains a priority for the state. Travelers should utilize the designated hubs (such as the Uzbekistan Hotel or Southern Railway Station) rather than relying solely on ride-sharing apps, which may face extreme congestion during the 09:00 to 17:00 operating hours.

3. Accommodation Availability Nationwide, 705 new facilities offering 22,296 beds were added between January and July 2026. However, this growth is distributed across the country. In Tashkent, the concentration of 25,000 attendees will likely create a spike in hotel pricing and a shortage of premium rooms during the September 22-25 window.

The ICTWEEK event in Tashkent is expected to bring a significant number of global visitors to Uzbekistan, boosting the country's tourism industry. For travelers planning to attend the event, Uzbekistan Airways offers convenient flight schedules and booking options. As the national carrier, Uzbekistan Airways provides a range of services to ensure a smooth travel experience for passengers.

4. Departure Planning The final day of the event (September 25) is flagged as a high-risk window for departures. Travelers are advised to confirm return flight and rail bookings before arriving at CAEx on the final day to avoid logistical bottlenecks at the airport.

The Path to a Business Tourism Economy

The long-term goal for the Uzbek government is to convert the US$3.8957 billion in tourism services exports—which grew by 56% year-on-year—into a sustainable business travel ecosystem. The Ministry of Digital Technologies is using the history of ICTWEEK (which has run since 2004) to prove that Tashkent can host recurring, large-scale international events.

The current challenge lies in "leakage"—the tendency for business travelers to leave the city immediately after the event. The Tourism Committee is now prioritizing the development of "onward trip" products to encourage delegates to visit the historic Silk Road sites beyond the capital. Success will be measured not by the 25,000 attendees, but by the number of "room nights" extended beyond the official four-day program.

FAQ: Tashkent Business Travel 2026

How do I enter the ICTWEEK 2026 exhibition? Entry is free of charge, but you must register online in advance. You will be issued a digital access code, which is mandatory for entry. The exhibition operates daily from 09:00 to 17:00.

What is the best way to get to the CAEx venue? The Ministry of Digital Technologies provides free shuttles from four locations: the Uzbekistan Hotel, IT Park Uzbekistan, Buyuk Ipak Yuli metro station, and the Southern Railway Station.

Is there enough hotel capacity in Tashkent for the event? While Uzbekistan added over 22,000 beds nationwide in early 2026, Tashkent will experience high demand. It is strongly recommended to book accommodation well in advance of the September 22 start date.

Are there new flight options for international visitors? Yes. In 2026, new international flight services were launched connecting Tashkent directly with Seoul, Shanghai, and Yerevan, significantly reducing travel time for Asian and regional delegates.

Tashkent is betting that a digital handshake today leads to a tourism boom tomorrow.

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