Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree "On urgent measures to support the tourism sector to reduce the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic."

The Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the State Committee for Tourism Development, Aziz Abdukhakimov, commented on the decree: “A new decree signed by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the initiative of the Republic of Uzbekistan and under the auspices of the World Tourism Organization, Aziz Abdukhakimov, at the International Online Tourism Conference“ The Renaissance ” on 28 May envisages the implementation of important benefits and measures aimed at supporting participants in the tourism market.

The first block of the decree - includes such measures as:

- 50% reduction in income tax rates by the end of the year;

- granting the right to transfer losses according to the results of 2020 and 2021 without limiting their size;

- the provision of customs benefits for disinfectants and non-contact equipment for tourism infrastructure;

 - suspension of accrual and payment of the tourist tax until January 1, 2021.

The second block includes:

- prolongation of the main debt on previously issued loans for the construction of accommodation facilities for a period of 18 to 24 months;

- the provision of one-time targeted interest-free loans for a period of 12 months: for tour operators in the amount of not more than three times the average monthly wage fund for 2019; accommodation facilities in the amount of five times the basic estimated value (110 US dollars) for each bed.

- subsidizing interest rates at the expense of the State Fund for the Support of Entrepreneurship:

- full coverage within 3 months (during the period of suspended activity) of interest expenses of tourism entities on previously issued loans from commercial banks for the construction of accommodation facilities;

- partial coverage by 2022 of the interest expenses of tourism entities on previously issued loans for the construction of accommodation facilities in the part that exceeds the basic rate of the Central Bank, but not more than 10 percentage points;

- partial coverage of the interest expenses of tourism entities on loans issued to bring in line with the new requirements of sanitary and hygiene standards in the part exceeding the basic rate of the Central Bank, but not more than 10 percentage points;

- partial coverage by the end of 2020 of interest expenses on loans issued to tourism entities for working capital replenishment in the amount of up to 1 billion soums in the part that exceeds the basic rate of the Central Bank, but not more than 10 percentage points;

The third block - includes subsidies and grants from the Tourism Support Fund:

- subsidies will be provided for the implementation of “startup” projects and innovative business ideas in the tourism sector (in the amount of 1.5 billion soums);

- National tour operators receive a subsidy of $ 15 for each foreign tourist; Compensation of 30% of the cost of purchased railway and air tickets. - reimbursement of hotel expenses for renovation, reconstruction, as well as updating the material and technical base to obtain or upgrade their categories:

3-star hotel - 5 million soums per room;

4-star hotel - 10 million soums per room;

5-star hotel - 15 million soums per room.

- subsidizing of accommodation facilities in the amount of 10 percent of the cost of accommodation services (hotel services) until 2022;

- grants in the amount of 30% of the project cost are provided to thematic food points, food and souvenir products delivery services;

- guides for the development and promotion of new tourism products and routes are given a grant of 5 million soums, tour operators - 10 million soums.

We are confident that these and many other targeted support measures for all industry participants, aimed at accelerating the restoration of tourism, will ensure the export of tourism services worth more than US$450 million.

At the same time, taking into account the new realities due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the requirements for the process of organizing tourism and leisure, creating a safe environment for domestic and inbound tourism, the project “Uzbekistan. Safe travel Guaranteed”.

The project is a new system of sanitary and epidemiological safety for tourists based on world standards. Certification of tourism facilities and related infrastructure, tourism services on the basis of new sanitary and hygienic requirements will be mandatory for:

all state border points;

air, railway and bus stations;

objects of tangible cultural heritage, museums, theaters and other cultural objects.

At the same time, the State Committee for Tourism together with the Ministry of Health will form and will supplement the “register of safe objects”, on the basis of which tour operators will form tourist routes. Certification of business entities (catering services, accommodation facilities, transportation services, etc.) are voluntary.

An important part of this project will be the organization of training and advanced training for tour operators, tourism facilities and related infrastructure. At the same time, a working group will be organized with the participation of public organizations for the widespread monitoring of compliance with sanitary and hygienic requirements for safe service. In addition, by decision of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, by way of exception, more than 3 thousand students will be admitted to educational institutions (professional colleges and technical schools) in the tourism sector in 2020-2021 on a free basis (state grant).

Restoration of tourism in Uzbekistan will be carried out in three stages.

At the first stage, from 1 June 2020, that is, from today in the regions of Uzbekistan with "green" and "yellow" levels of quarantine, domestic tourism resumes. Related organizations - tour operators, travel agencies, accommodation facilities, objects of culture, cultural heritage and others can begin to operate from this date and in the indicated areas with strict observance of established sanitary and hygienic norms and requirements.

In Uzbekistan, 63% of tour operators and 81% of accommodation facilities (hotels, hotels, hostels) have suspended their activities and the first stage will be dedicated to resuscitation of their activities through domestic tourism. Also, at this stage the security system “Uzbekistan. Safe travel Guaranteed” to be as ready as possible for the resumption of international inbound tourism.

The second stage is the restoration of organized regional tourism with neighboring countries and the CIS countries. At the same time, it is especially important that we work out the issues of compliance with safety measures, sanitary and hygienic requirements and measures of social distance throughout the travel route of tourist groups, including it is considered advisable to create a joint operational response group.

We also offer our colleagues in the region to combine this work with our efforts to develop new combined tours on various topics: gastronomic tours, vitamin tours, nomad tours, moto tours, pilaf tours, archaeological and others that will take place along our tourist cities and centers. We also created a special Silk Road Project platform to promote not only the tourism potential of the Silk Road countries, but also promising regional tourist products and routes.

At the third stage, Uzbekistan will gradually resume inbound tourism with a list of non-CIS countries whose citizens are allowed to enter the republic, taking into account the situation with the pandemic. Many European and Asian countries are gradually emerging from the crisis of the coronavirus pandemic and are preparing to open up tourism markets.

In this regard, we conduct a thorough analysis of measures taken in other countries in terms of sanitary and epidemiological safety and the prevention of new cases of diseases. Based on the results of such an analysis, decisions will be made on the geography of the resumption of international flights to our country.

At the same time, I would like to note that throughout all three stages of the restoration of the tourism industry, along with issues of improving the safety of stay and rest of local and foreign tourists, special attention is paid to the development and conduct of new thematic events: these are gastronomic festivals and events, the music festival “Element ", Beach games" Akchakul ", Harvest Festival, Week of" tourism of the third age "and others.

As you know, Bukhara was declared the capital of Islamic culture in 2020 and we hope that as the world situation improves and international tourism resumes, we will be able to hold a number of events in honor of this event, including the 2nd Pilgrimage Tourism Forum. An important area of work of the Committee and all participants in the tourism industry in Uzbekistan is the diversification of tourist routes.

An important step along this path is the promotion of mini-brands of regions, cities and tourist centers. The basis of these mini-brands will lie on the gastronomic, handicraft, agro, eco, cultural or historical features of a particular city or region.

Each region of Uzbekistan should be recognizable in the tourism market with its own unique and memorable “highlight”. The current pandemic has once again emphasized the importance of digitalization and the introduction of IT technology in the tourism industry.

Undoubtedly, Uzbekistan is also actively working in this direction. For example, the site online.tourism.uz was created, containing detailed information for travelers, entrepreneurs and young startupers in separate sections.

Also, for our future guests who had to postpone their trip to the next 2021 in connection with the pandemic, we organized virtual tours in the resources of “Online Uzbekistan” and “Uzbekistan360” so that they could get acquainted with the sights of our country.

In general, Uzbekistan is introducing a new system of safe tourism, the rules of which will be quite simple and painless for all participants in the tourism industry.

At the same time, the system offers targeted and effective disease prevention tools at all stages of organizing tour trips.” The General Secretary of the World Tourism Organization Zurab Pololikashvili, and participants in the international online conference praised the work of the President and the Government of Uzbekistan in this direction.

It should be noted that Zurab Pololikashvili and Aziz Abduhakimov regularly exchange views on mitigating the complications of coronavirus during a pandemic. This indicates a close and reliable relationship between the UNWTO and the State Committee for Tourism Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan.