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Дата публикации: Dec 17, 2016 12:27:42 PM

As a unique country, whose territory was home to an advanced ancient civilization and culture, Uzbekistan has huge capacities for tourism not second in its appeal to the best places in the world for leisure travel. The use of this potential is expected to be facilitated by the presidential decree “On measures to ensure accelerated development of the tourism industry in Uzbekistan”.

This document aims to provide for the accelerated growth of the travel industry, giving tourism the status of a strategic sector of the economy, turning it into a powerful tool for sustainable augmentation of the economy, the efficient use of the tourist potential of the regions, increase the role of tourism in boosting the level and quality of life.

In order to effectively implement public policy, organize and coordinate the implementation of the above targets and priorities, State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Tourism Development has been established, with offices and authorized representatives in the regions.

Of particular notice is that the activities of the State Committee will be directed, above all, not at carrying out control and administrative functions, but at all-round promotion of entrepreneurial activity in the sphere of tourism, the removal of all obstacles and barriers to the enhancement of tourism, enlargement of competition in the market of travel services.

The decree establishes a number of fundamentally new mechanisms of state regulation aimed at improving the licensing, certification and other authorization procedures in the field of tourism.

In particular, from 1 January 2017, licensing of tourist activity functions are transferred from the Cabinet of Ministers to the newly created State Committee, at the same time canceling the requirement for a license by hotels and other accommodation places. In turn, certification will be compulsory in 2018 to catering and transport companies specializing in providing services to foreign tourists in order to ensure the safety of their life and health.

The turning point of the decree was the complete abolition from 1 April 2017 of the visa regime for tourists from 15 countries, including Australia, Austria, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Canada, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Finland, Switzerland and Japan, as well as for tourists from 12 countries who have reached the age of 55, including Belgium, Indonesia, China (a part of tourist groups), Malaysia, the United States, France, Vietnam, Israel, Poland, Hungary, Portugal and the Czech Republic. Visa-free regime will apply to foreign citizens arriving in the republic for tourist purposes for a period not exceeding 30 days.

Another novelty will be the introduction of common tourist visa for all countries, issued for a period of 30 days, a significant simplification of visa procedures, including the use of the system of online application forms for visas as well as the introduction of the system of electronic visas in 2018.

Until 1 April 2017, in the international airports of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Urgench, "green corridor" customs control system will be introduced for foreign tourists, as well as simplified procedures for passport control and customs, baggage claim, improved transport services. In airports and train stations will be delivered conditions for separate passport control for residents and non-residents. It is also planned to set up and develop comfortable tourist information environment at the airports and railway stations, including the activities of tour information points.

The decree also provides for measures to further stimulate the entrepreneurial activity in the sphere of tourism, step up travel infrastructure, and provide tourist organizations with additional privileges and preferences. In particular, tour operators are exempt from the mandatory sale of foreign currency revenues garnered from the provision of tourism services.

Among the incentives also is a norm according to which the acquisition by the entities of tourist activity of new vehicles with a capacity of more than nine people, fees to the National Road Fund are reduced from a maximum of 20 to 3% of the cost of vehicles.

Moreover, in the near future, the State Committee for Tourism Development, in conjunction with government agencies concerned, is tasked with working out and introducing to the Cabinet of Ministers – within three months – the Concept of advancement of the travel industry in the Republic of Uzbekistan in the medium term, in addition to a program of concrete measures to implement the Concept in 2017-202.

(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

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