A city within a city: Inside Uzbekistan’s largest tourism project

By&nbspRushana Aliakbarova

Published connected 05/09/2025 - 9:46 GMT+2 •Updated 9:49

On nan outskirts of Samarkand, connected what was erstwhile a agelong of godforsaken onshore surrounding an Olympic rowing canal, rises 1 of Central Asia’s astir eager tourism projects.

The Silk Road Samarkand International Tourist Centre covers 260 hectares and has been called “a metropolis wrong a city” – a spot wherever history, culture, and modern luxury converge.

A surviving museum: The “Eternal City”

The beating bosom of nan analyzable is nan Eternal City, an 11-hectare ethno-park designed by Uzbek creator Bobur Ismoilov. Here, visitors are transported into a cautiously recreated past, wandering done streets inspired by ancient manuscripts, wherever turquoise domes glimmer, mosaics shine, and minarets emergence into nan sky.

Artisans and craftsmen activity successful unfastened shops, echoing nan bazaars of aged Samarkand and Bukhara. Visitors tin sensation dishes from different eras and corners of Uzbekistan, while thoroughfare performers bring folklore to life.

The tract reflects nan galore taste layers that shaped nan region – from Parthian and Hellenistic influences to Islamic traditions. In 1 walk, you tin walk done nan tone of Khorezm, Ferghana, Tashkent, Kashkadarya, and Karakalpakstan without leaving nan complex.

“It was important to sphere taste authenticity while offering modern comfort”, explains Zafar Butaev, CEO of Silk Road Samarkand. “The Eternal City showcases nan versatile practice of bygone hundreds of years successful afloat splendour”.

Wellness, business, and leisure successful 1 place

The Silk Road Samarkand analyzable is much than a taste showcase. Eight luxury hotels connection astir 1,200 rooms, among them 14 statesmanlike suites – a grounds successful Central Asia. The Wellness Park stands retired pinch its 4 specialised hotels. The conception is attracting world recognition, pinch aesculapian tourism now a increasing conception of Samarkand’s appeal.

Meanwhile, nan eco-design of nan edifice – much than 30,000 recently planted trees, landscaped gardens, and solar-powered energy positions it arsenic a sustainable tourism exemplary successful nan region.

The Congress Centre adds a different dimension. With panoramic solid façades and state-of-the-art technology, it has already hosted prestigious gatherings, from nan European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s yearly gathering to nan UN World Tourism Organisation’s General Assembly.

With a capacity of 3,000 crossed its 5 halls, it is 1 of nan largest venues of its benignant successful Central Asia.

Recognition connected nan world stage

Since its opening successful 2022, Silk Road Samarkand has accumulated awards: “Discovery of nan Year”, “Brand of nan Year”, and nickname astatine nan Republican Medical Tourism Index.

Its domiciled arsenic a big of nan 43rd UNESCO General Conference successful 2025, nan first clip nan arena will time off Paris successful 4 decades, underscores its world standing.

The numbers are arsenic impressive: much than 4 cardinal visitors a year, 100 awesome events since 2023, and a tourism maturation complaint that has accrued overseas arrivals to Samarkand by 60 per cent.

Expanding horizons

For Butaev, nan task is only beginning. A family h2o parkland has precocious opened, a bio-lake pinch a formation is nether construction, and nan Expo Centre is expanding from 4,000 to 10,000 quadrate meters.

“We judge our ancient and eternally young metropolis has immense potential”, he says. “Our ngo is to thief it grow, attracting much tourists, business visitors, and world attention”.

Strategic markets already see Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, alongside European destinations specified arsenic Italy, France, Germany, and nan UK. Thanks to Air Samarkand, nan metropolis is now straight linked pinch hubs successful Turkey, nan UAE, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Indonesia, supporting some taste and visit tourism.

A caller section for Samarkand

Samarkand has agelong been synonymous pinch Registan Square, Gur-Emir Mausoleum, and nan breathtaking Shakhi-Zinda necropolis. Now, pinch Silk Road Samarkand, nan metropolis adds a modern section to its bequest – 1 that combines nan grandeur of its past pinch nan imagination of a modern tourism capital.

“It’s amended to spot it pinch your ain eyes”, Butaev smiles. “What we want astir is for each impermanent to time off pinch unforgettable impressions, carrying a portion of Samarkand’s tone location pinch them”.