Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed a resolution on additional measures to diversify domestic tourism services dated 30 April 2022.

From 1 June, within the framework of the program “Uzbekiston boylab sayohat qil!”: 

employers include in collective agreements rules to create opportunities for employees to travel locally once a year;

part of the travel expenses is covered by the extra-budgetary funds of employers and other sources not prohibited by law.

From 1 September, for citizens of Uzbekistan, a procedure for returning part of the expenses (cashback) for domestic travel carried out in the regions of the republic within the framework of the “Uzbekiston buylab sayohat kil!” Program is being introduced. The order is established in which:

reimbursement of travel expenses is carried out through an electronic platform, including through its mobile application, which envisages the planning of domestic travel and refunds, as well as the provision of discounts and the independent formation of ready-made tourist packages within the framework of the “Uzbekiston boylab sayohat qil!” program;

reimbursement of expenses is carried out at the same time during the trip:

use of air, rail and (or) road transport;

using the services of accommodation facilities;

visits to cultural organizations.

The amount of compensation for each tourist is:

15% of the round-trip ticket amount when traveling by air, but not more than 150 thousand soums;

15% of the round-trip ticket amount when traveling by rail or bus, but not more than 80 thousand soums;

15% of the amount of expenses for spending the night in accommodation facilities, but not more than 80 thousand soums;

50% of the amount of each visit to theaters, museums, circuses and art galleries, but not more than 20 thousand soums.

These amounts are returned through the e-platform to the bank card of local tourists at the end of the domestic trip. By integrating the Platform with a special mobile application of the State Tax Committee (SoliqUz), the authenticity of expenses is verified, QR codes of checks are scanned and the permanent place of residence of local tourists is indicated.

In addition, land plots will be sold along the tourist transport corridor "Uzbekiston Tourism Highway". "Caravanserai" will be created along the highways, the address list will be formed within a month.

Each "caravanserai" will provide tourist services, the sale of handicrafts and local agricultural products, and car maintenance services.

Within three months, it is also planned to organize beach areas on the territory of the lakes Akchakul, Ashshikul, Zikrikul, Aydarkul, Tuzkonkul and Tudakul. To do this, land plots that are not the habitat of wildlife objects will be leased for up to 10 years.

The document approved the Program for the diversification of domestic tourism. In particular, it is allowed to work at night (from 18:00 to 06:00) catering establishments, entertainment and shopping facilities, cultural organizations located on specially organized "tourism streets".

The following requirements will be established for tourist display facilities operating at night:

in the interior of the facilities serving the premises, at the entrances and exits, including in places of evacuation of citizens and movement in case of emergency, video surveillance systems have been installed that allow storing data for at least 30 days;

lighting at a distance of at least 10 meters of the territory of buildings, parking lots and other territories adjacent to them;

equipping facilities with complete sound insulation;

providing objects with fire extinguishing means, first-aid kits, etc.

From 1 July 2022, entrepreneurs who have organized guest houses, places of public catering and entertainment in the territories of citizens’ gatherings that have received the status of "Tourist mahalla", "Tourist village" and "Tourist village" are subject to tax benefits and the norms provided for in subparagraphs "a ” and “c” of paragraph 2 of the Decree of the President from 27 January 2022 “On additional measures to develop the service sector”.

To finance projects, entrepreneurs are provided with loans in the amount of up to 100 million soums for repairs, up to 50 million soums for equipping family guest houses with furniture, household appliances and other items, as well as up to 200 million soums for the construction of swimming pools.