Indonesia and Uzbekistan Explore Stronger Religious Tourism Ties

Indonesia and Uzbekistan are exploring a direct flight route and broader cooperation in religious tourism, with Samarkand being considered as an additional destination for Indonesian umrah travelers.

Hajj and Umrah Minister Mochamad Irfan Yusuf led an Indonesian delegation in talks with Samarkand Governor Adiz Boboev. The discussions focused on improving connectivity, facilitating tourist movement, and expanding the destinations included in umrah travel packages.

“We want to reinforce our long-standing bilateral relations,” Yusuf said. He pointed to historical links between Indonesia and Uzbekistan, including the influence of Central Asian clerics on the development of Islam in Indonesia. He said opportunities remained open for joint religious tourism initiatives.

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We want to reinforce our long-standing bilateral relations.

Yusuf noted that Indonesian umrah pilgrims increasingly extend their overseas travel beyond pilgrimage sites in Saudi Arabia, visiting destinations such as Turkiye, Dubai, and other locations in the Middle East. He said Samarkand could join that list, but emphasized that follow-up talks would need to involve Indonesian umrah travel agencies. The ministry regulates umrah travel but does not organize the trips.

Yusuf also encouraged more Uzbek visitors to travel to Indonesia. “Indonesia is not just Bali. We have Lombok, Belitung, Wakatobi, and many other destinations that are just as appealing,” he said.

Boboev welcomed the initiative and agreed that a direct flight would be important for strengthening tourism ties. He also expressed hope that more Indonesians would visit Muslim heritage sites in Uzbekistan, including places associated with Imam Bukhari, Imam al-Maturidi, Imam Tirmidhi, and Baha’ al-Din Naqshband.

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Indonesia is not just Bali. We have Lombok, Belitung, Wakatobi, and many other destinations that are just as appealing.