Samarkand, Uzbekistan, is both a historic destination and a working city. Its historic area is a UNESCO World Heritage site, but schools, shops, and workshops remain part of everyday life alongside its monuments.
According to the head of the city's tourism university, Samarkand received an estimated seven million tourists in 2025. More than 10 million visited during the first nine months of 2026, and the city expects around 14 million by year's end.
The university is working with UN Tourism and preparing to open a tourism observatory, a center that will monitor tourism's effects. Besides counting visitors, it will examine impacts on jobs, the urban environment, and residents' daily lives.
Housing is another priority as the city grows. More than 1,100 apartment buildings have been built in Samarkand Region over eight years. UN-Habitat and the national government are developing a housing profile to guide improvements. The city's plan through 2040 includes both housing expansion and attention to existing homes.
UN-Habitat representative Katja Schaefer recommends improving homes and services rather than replacing them. This includes better water supplies, heating, and energy efficiency. She also calls for new growth outside the historic center and says residents should participate in decisions about their neighborhoods.
