Government announces major incentives for tour operators and airlines to boost tourism

A key highlight of the initiative is the designation of the period from April to June as the "open tourism season." To support this, airlines will be granted a subsidy of $100 for every tourist brought into the country via newly launched flight routes. Additionally, carriers will benefit from a 20% discount on airport services to encourage expanded connectivity.

Starting April 1, the government will significantly scale up its support for local travel agencies. Tour operators are set to receive budget subsidies of up to $5,000 for every 1,000 foreign travelers they bring to Uzbekistan.

Furthermore, a new fiscal incentive will allow these companies to receive a 50% refund of their paid Value Added Tax (VAT) in the form of a cashback. This measure is intended to improve the liquidity and competitiveness of domestic tourism firms on the global stage.

To increase Uzbekistan’s international visibility, the state plans to leverage the reach of digital creators. Fifty prominent foreign bloggers, each boasting a minimum reach of 5 million views, will be provided with free seven-day tour packages. The government has also pledged to compensate costs associated with promoting the Republic on the world’s largest travel and booking platforms.

The president set ambitious targets for Samarkand, aiming to host high-profile cultural and business events to draw international crowds. The goals for the remainder of the year include:

• Organizing tours for five world-class musical artists.
• Hosting 10 major business forums and fashion festivals.
• Developing "scientific tourism" as a niche growth area.

The scientific sector is viewed as particularly promising, especially with the International Astronautical Congress scheduled for 2028, which is expected to attract 10,000 participants from over 100 countries. Government officials have been instructed to collaborate with international organizations to create a dedicated program for scientific forums, conferences, and academic Olympiads in the natural and exact sciences.

President Mirziyoyev concluded that by fully realizing these opportunities, the annual tourist flow to Samarkand could reach 6 million people.