DELHI, February 25. /Dunyo IA/.  Uzbekistan’s tourism potential has received high recognition in India, at the prestigious “VETA Awards” ceremony, held at the “ITC Maurya” in Delhi, the country was honoured with an award for outstanding achievements in tourism development, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

“VETA Awards” is regarded as one of the largest and most authoritative award ceremonies in the tourism and hospitality industry of India and South Asia. The prize was established by the leading media company “Versatile Media”, publisher of the nationwide travel magazine “Travel Scapes”.

“VETA Awards” serves as a flagship platform for recognizing excellence and innovation across the sector, bringing together global leaders and key national stakeholders of the tourism industry. The award is held in partnership with South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE), underscoring its stature and influence in shaping the agenda of India’s outbound tourism market.

The ceremony brought together leading figures of India’s tourism industry, including executives of major tour operators, hotel chains, and airlines. The evening was further distinguished by appearances from Bollywood stars, popular musical groups, and performers. The event received extensive media coverage from prominent Indian news outlets and leading travel bloggers.

Interest in Uzbekistan among Indian tourists continues to grow at a dynamic pace, and the presentation of the “VETA Awards” underscores this positive trend.

By the end of 2025, more than 80,000 Indian citizens visited Uzbekistan - a 15 percent increase compared to the previous year. This growth has been driven by the active promotion of the country’s tourism potential and the steady expansion of air connectivity between the two nations.

Under its summer schedule, “Centrum Air” will launch direct flights on the Tashkent - Hyderabad route starting March 30, while “Uzbekistan Airways” will commence services between Namangan and Delhi from April 4. As a result, the total weekly frequency of flights between Uzbekistan and India will reach nearly 20 services, further strengthening tourism and business exchanges between the two countries.

In this context, Uzbekistan’s tourism authorities have set an ambitious goal to welcome 100,000 travellers from India in 2026.

Receiving “VETA Awards” has provided a strong launch for Uzbekistan’s business programme in India. The ceremony is traditionally held on the eve of South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE), one of the largest tourism fairs in Asia, which opened today in Delhi,

At the SATTE exhibition, Uzbekistan is presented with a unified national stand. The delegation includes representatives of the Tourism Committee, as well as leading tour operators and agencies of our country. Within the framework of the exhibition, a series of B2B negotiations is planned with Indian companies and agencies from South Asian countries.

The key topics of the meetings include increasing tourist flow, developing MICE tourism and strengthening partnerships. Participation in SATTE is a logical continuation of Uzbekistan’s successful promotion at the OTM exhibition in Mumbai earlier this February.

Uzbekistan is actively working to enhance its tourism appeal. In January of this year, a large-scale advertising campaign featuring videos of Uzbekistan’s ancient cities was launched in India’s largest cities - Delhi, Mumbai and Gurgaon. The development of air travel and the popularization of Uzbekistan’s tourism brand through info-tours for Indian bloggers and journalists are already yielding results, making Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva desirable destinations for Indian residents.