During a videoconference held on April 9, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the need to unlock the tourism potential of Uzbekistan’s regions. The meeting presented some key statistics on the sector and concluded with a series of new instructions to responsible authorities.
Reportedly, Uzbekistan’s tourism exports have reached $3.5 billion in recent years, and more than 10 million foreign tourists visited the country last year. A new strategy is now being developed with the goal of increasing tourism’s share in the national economy to 7% and exports to $10 billion by 2040.
As part of this strategy and related development programs, the following tasks have been set:
- Begin road repairs along the “Tourism Ring”;
- Expand the construction and furnishing of capsule hotels;
- Introduce a 10-day approval process via my.gov.uz for trekking route permits for tour operators in mountainous regions;
- Extend the 10-day visa-free regime for Gulf countries to 30 days and simplify visa procedures for tourists from India, Pakistan, Egypt, and Iran;
- Expedite the launch of the Unified National Tourism Platform, which will include e-ticketing and e-visa services;
- Declare one Saturday and Sunday each month as “Travel with Family and Colleagues” days and allocate 20 billion UZS annually to promote domestic tourism;
- Implement a “unified tourist card” providing access to all historical sites across the country.
Additionally, the President instructed officials to develop measures to promote extreme tourism and attract 15 million foreign tourists by 2025.
What happened to the Cabinet's previous decision?
It is important to note that the implementation of several tourism development initiatives outlined in earlier government documents has been delayed – or neglected altogether.
Currently, the national legislative database contains over a hundred legal documents related to tourism development in Uzbekistan. While most are in force, their implementation raises questions. Take, for example, Government Resolution No. 582, which called for the launch of new types of tourism by January 1, 2025, including industrial, geological, scientific, military, and government administration tourism. Specific ministries and agencies were tasked with implementing each type.
