Tour operators to receive a subsidy for each foreign tourist

The presidential decision “On measures to further accelerate reforms in the field of tourism and effectively organize the state management system in the field” was adopted.

From January 1, 2024:

• tour operators will be allocated an incentive subsidy from 20 US dollars to 100 US dollars in equal shares for each tourist brought to Uzbekistan from foreign countries with a low tourist flow;
• a part of the expenses of tour operators and air carriers on charter flights from abroad to the airports of Samarkand, Bukhara and Urganch for each foreign tourist, if he stays at least 5 nights in the republic, 20 US dollars, and in equal shares equivalent to 50 US dollars in the winter season (from November 20 to February 20) will be covered.

In the event that a hotel of no less than five floors with a stock of not less than 60 rooms for the 3-star category and not less than 120 rooms for the 4- and 5-star categories is put into operation by December 31, 2026, after the hotel category is approved, the expenses of the investors for the construction and equipment of the new hotel a part is covered in the following amounts:

• 40 million soums for each room in 3-star hotels;
• •  65 million soums for each room in 4- and 5-star hotels.

Until December 31, 2026, the royalties of the organizations that are residents of Uzbekistan using the world’s prestigious hotel brands (in the top-50 hotel brands and top-5 hotel chains) will be partially financed in the following amount for 3 years from the date of entry into force of the franchise agreement:

• for a hotel with a 3-star category – equivalent to 200 US dollars per year for each room of the hotel;
• for a hotel with a 4-star category – equivalent to 400 US dollars per year for each room of the hotel;
• for a hotel with a 5-star category – equivalent to 600 US dollars per year for each hotel room.

From January 1, 2024, the “Barrier-free tourism” program aimed at creating a comfortable environment for people with disabilities to travel will be implemented.

Until July 1, 2026, taxes imposed on the property of legal entities that provide “safari” tourism services by creating a separate autonomous infrastructure in hard-to-reach and remote areas (at least 10 km from populated areas or 5 km from paved highways) and Land tax rates from legal entities are set at 1% of the amount calculated for these taxes.

From the 2023-2024 academic year, funds of no less than 10 billion soums will be annually allocated to the “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage for the citizens of the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Organization of Turkic States, as well as the countries located on the Great Silk Road, to study at the master’s level on the basis of a state grant.