Brief review of main indicators of Uzbekistan`s tourism market for 9 months of 2019

GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE OF THE NUMBER OF TOURISTS

The results of the 9 months of 2019 show that the quantitative indicators of the tourism industry reflect the trend of stable growth relative to the previous year. According to the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Tourism Development, the number of foreign tourists visiting Uzbekistan for 9 months of 2019 amounted to 4.9 million people. This is 26.1% up year-on-year.

The overall trend of the indicator for the months remained unchanged, while in quantitative terms it has increased. During the 9 months of 2019 and 2018, the largest number of tourists falls on the month of August, some 692.3 thousand people arrived during this period (18.5% up).

In September, the number of foreign tourists decreased by 13.9% and amounted to 613.7 thousand people. 

The highest rate of growth in the number of tourists is observed in January and is 64.2%. The lowest growth rate falls on the month of May and is 12.5%.

The age characteristics of the composition of foreign tourists remain without significant changes in the first 9 months of 2019. Still the main part of foreign tourists, that is about 51,0% are aged from 31 to 55 years. This shows that the country is visited mainly by tourists of more mature age. The proportion of young people aged 19 to 30 years comprised 19.5%, and under 18 years-9.4%. The share of tourists aged 55 years and older is 20.0%. In general, the composition of foreign tourists is quite diversified in terms of age categories and corresponds to the existing tourist potential of the country.

In regional terms, naturally, a large number of tourists visit the country from neighboring countries. Accordingly, the predominant part of tourists fall on the countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan. Tajikistan and Turkmenistan). Thus, in the first 9 months of 2019, the number of tourists visiting Uzbekistan from Central Asian countries increased by 24.1%, reaching 4.2 million people. 384.1 thousand people from the CIS countries (excluding Central Asia) visited Uzbekistan, which is 26.3% more than in the previous year. 

The total number of tourists was distributed among the regions in the following proportions: Central Asia-84.7%, CIS countries-7.8% and foreign countries-7.55%.

THE PURPOSE OF VISIT 

The visit purpose is an important indicator reflecting the state and direction of development of the tourism sector of the country. The simplification of visa procedures and the abolition of visas in a number of countries has had an impact on the flow of tourists over the past two years. These measures are related both to the visa regimes of neighboring countries and countries far abroad.

As a result, according to the results of 9 months of 2019 in the context of the purposes of the visit, most of the tourists came to visit their relatives and friends. Thus, during the period under review, the share of such tourists in the total number of foreign tourists amounted to 82.5%. At the same time, this indicator decreased relative to the same indicator of the previous year by 5.9 points.

A significant increase in the share is observed for tourists who visited the country for recreation and entertainment. The number of tourists arriving for recreation and entertainment increased by 2.2 times, amounting to 725.3 thousand people. As a result, the share of these tourists in the total number of foreign tourists increased by 6.3 percentage points and amounted to 14.7%. Experts note this trend as a positive result, reflecting the qualitative improvement of the indicators of the tourism sector of the country.

The number of tourists visiting the country for education increased 2.3 times and amounted to 18.2 thousand people.

EXPORT OF TOURIST SERVICES

The volume of exports of tourist services is an important indicator reflecting the state and contribution of the tourism industry to the economy as a whole. In the first 9 months of 2019, the volume of services exports reached $986.8 million, which is 27.6% higher than the previous year.

The growth in the volume of services exports was mainly due to the growth in the number of tourists. If we consider the volume of exports of services in the context of regions, the highest rate of growth in the volume of exports of tourist services fall on foreign countries. Thus, in the first 9 months of 2019, the export of tourist services to foreign countries increased by 54.8%, amounting to $264.5 million. Exports of services to CIS countries increased by 26.3%, reaching $244.1 million. 

The highest growth rate of services exports is observed in Turkmenistan. Exports to the country increased 3.5-fold to $38.6 million. Exports to France increased 2.0-fold to $9.0 million. 

Financial Analysis and Rating Department
 Information and Rating Agency SAIPRO