Uzbekistan and Malaysia are expanding cooperation in visit tourism

Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Malaysia in pilgrimage tourism is expanding. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

Recently, a media briefing dedicated to promoting the “Umra+” program was organized in Kuala Lumpur at the initiative of the Embassy of Uzbekistan. The event was attended by representatives of the Uzbekistan Pilgrimage Association, Uzbekistan Airways Joint Stock Company, Malaysian tourism associations MATA, Bumitra, and PAPUH, as well as local tour companies and mass media.

This was reported by uzdaily.uz. During the meeting, reforms being implemented to develop pilgrimage tourism in Uzbekistan were discussed, along with plans to increase the flow of pilgrims from Malaysia and Indonesia to 100,000 by 2026–2027.

Additionally, information was provided about the conveniences being created for pilgrims and the benefits offered to tour operators active in this sector. During the briefing, the significance of the cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara in the history of Islamic civilization was especially emphasized.

The Islamic Civilization Center and the Imam al-Bukhari complex, established at the initiative of the President, aroused great interest among the event participants. Within the framework of the event, a cooperation memorandum on the “Umra+” program was signed between Uzbekistan’s “Umra” Pilgrimage Association and the Malaysian Association of Tour Operators (MATA).

Based on this memorandum, an international exhibition on pilgrimage tourism is planned to be held in June 2026 in Malaysia and Uzbekistan. MATA Vice Chairman Jeffrey Sulaiman emphasized that the memorandum will create an important foundation for strengthening pilgrimage tourism between the two countries.

According to him, the “Umra+ and Pilgrimage Tourism” international exhibition will be held in Kuala Lumpur from June 21 to 23, 2026. Abdul Rahim bin Abdulla, head of a major Malaysian tourism company, noted that several groups of pilgrims were sent to Uzbekistan in 2025, highlighting the high interest of Malaysian citizens in Uzbekistan’s historical and cultural heritage and sacred sites.

He highly appreciated the infrastructure and services created for pilgrims. Direct flights between Uzbekistan and Malaysia, operated eight times a week, contribute to strengthening ties between the two countries.

The signed memorandum and joint initiatives represent an important step towards turning Uzbekistan into an international center for pilgrimage tourism and provide an opportunity to further develop tourism cooperation with Malaysia.