16.07.2024

On July 16, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed with a presentation on measures to improve the tourist infrastructure in the regions and increase the flow of foreign tourists.

The respective tasks were discussed during the video conference and dialogue with entrepreneurs held on June 3. Based on these instructions and proposals, additional measures aimed at developing the sphere were developed.

In particular, a separate line of credit from the Fund for Reconstruction and Development in the amount of US $50 million is being opened to provide tourist organizations with working capital to attract foreign tourists to our country. These loans will be issued in national currency at a rate of 17 percent per annum for a period of 10 years with a two-year grace period.

In regions with high potential tourist facilities based on master plans will be built. This year, 100 billion Uzbek soums will be allocated from the national budget to improve the infrastructure of such regions. They will also attract investments of US $50 million.

There are also a number of benefits for tourism entrepreneurs. These include exempting buses and minibuses from customs duties, compensating tour operators and craftsmen 50 percent of the cost of attending international fairs, reducing the income tax on entrepreneurs by 50 percent, organizing business events with the participation of foreign guests.

The Head of State noted the need to create a national tourism brand of Uzbekistan. In accordance with this, based on the requirements of the target markets, content on the types of tourism in our country will be created. It will be promoted in international media and on social platforms, world sports and art events. Foreign journalists, bloggers and influencers with a large audience will be involved.

For the convenience of tourists, a unified online platform about all air, rail and bus flights with the possibility of purchasing tickets will be launched. Air, rail and bus tickets will be available for sale at least six months before the flight. During the national holidays, additional flights will be launched. Information will be regularly published in the media and social media.

The issue of training specialists for the sphere is also important. From the next school year, a number of innovations in this direction are planned.

In particular, training programs in the field of tourism and hotel industry will be improved based on the experience of educational institutions, which are in the top 100-world ranking. Instead of four years, the duration of higher education in the field will be three years. Students will be given the opportunity to work in the specialty, developing professional skills directly at the workplace. Courses to prepare guides will be organized in Andijan, Bukhara, Samarkand and Urgench state universities, universities of Oriental studies, World Languages and “Silk Road”.

The Head of State gave instructions on the development of an appropriate document and the effective organization of its implementation.