Silk Road Samarkand, the largest tourist complex in Central Asia, has reported surging demand driven by a huge increase in international tourist and MICE visitors in 2024.
Located on the outskirts of the historic city of Samarkand, the Silk Road Samarkand tourist centre saw a 50 percent increase in visitor numbers last year – with China, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Russia and the European Union showing significant growth – and is preparing for a further leap in tourists in 2025.
Covering an area of 260 hectares around the city’s Republican Rowing Canal, Silk Road Samarkand was originally built at a cost of $580 million and was opened in August 2022. It now incorporates eight world class 5- and 4-star hotels with almost 1,200 rooms, plus an international congress centre, an expo centre covering 4,000 sq m, a family-friendly waterpark, parks and other open spaces, sports arenas, 30 restaurants, bars, cafes and nightclubs, plus much more for leisure, business, gastronomic and health tourists.
Bakhtiyor Fazilov, Founder of Silk Road Samarkand, said: “Silk Road Samarkand continues to set high benchmarks in the hospitality industry, given it is a sustainable development that provides luxury accommodation at affordable prices. The complex is not only enhancing Uzbekistan’s position on the global tourism map but also creating new opportunities for cultural and business connections.”
In 2025, Silk Road Samarkand aims to strengthen its position as a leading tourism complex in the region by hosting several key events including the 43rd Unesco General Conference in November.
It is also planning further enhancements for visitor facilities, including upgrades to its Savitsky Plaza, Wellness Park Hotel Turon and Wellness Park Hotel Bactria, while also developing a new Bio Lake and expanding its Expo Center.
During its second year of opening, significant developments at Silk Road Samarkand included:
* The new family-friendly Waterland aquapark, offering 18 water slides and other attractions for thrill-seekers of all ages;
* Hilton Hotels & Resorts rebranding three hotels as Hilton Samarkand Regency, Hilton Garden Inn Samarkand Afrosiyob and the Hilton Garden Inn Samarkand Sogd; with more international hotel groups soon expected at the resort;
* New bars, cafes and restaurants offering a wide range of dining options for casual and business meals, plus new banqueting space for up to 500 guests;
* Shops offering traditional oriental sweets made by a fourth-generation family, alongside craft workshops for handmade ceramics, jewellery and accessories;
* The Koran Museum, a small facility built in traditional Islamic style to house manuscript editions of the Koran that have been collected from all over the Islamic world, together with other scientific and Islamic literature of cultural significance;
* A 300-metre-long karting track for racing enthusiasts aged 14 years and over;
* New children’s rides in a playground located in the Amphitheatre area.
