Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - As part of active measures by the Uzbek leadership to mitigate the effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic, advanced know-how is being studied and implemented in our country to ensure the development of key sectors of the national economy. In particular, in the field of tourism, it is planned to implement new models of the certification system of tourism industry facilities for safety against epidemics, Dunyo reported.

Thus, representatives of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Turkey, together with the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the development of tourism, held talks in the form of a video conference with Turkish specialists.

The goal is the exchange of information and experience on the study and possible implementation of the Turkish experience in Uzbekistan on certification of tourist facilities for safety against epidemics in Uzbekistan, discussion of the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation in the field of tourism.

As a result of the event, it was agreed to continue the dialogue, organize a webinar in the near future with the participation of representatives of the tourism sectors of the two countries with the assistance of TIKA for a detailed exchange of information and possible synchronization of the development of standards for the certification of tourist facilities for safety from the epidemic - "Virus-Free".

It should be noted that Turkey was one of the first in the world to develop a certification system for tourist facilities for safety against epidemics, including the new type of coronavirus Covid-19. For this, appropriate anti-virus hygiene standards have been prepared. The introduction of the “Virus Free System” certificate system starts in May of this year.

The system will concern the reception, accommodation and leisure of guests. In a wide format, the certification process will include the following main segments - attractions, transport, "equipment" of the tourism sector and tourists themselves, who will have to follow certain rules.

In the new system, the sterilization of vehicles, hotels, airports, restaurants, agencies, museums and historical sites is of particular importance. In addition, all employees of the tourism industry will also need to receive a certificate of immunity. An inventory will be made of the medical infrastructure, including intensive care units and ventilators, and tour operators will be presented with its results.

The staff will undergo special trainings at which specialists will train to work in a pandemic. Infrastructure, including airports, hotels, restaurants, museums and archaeological sites, will be adapted to maintain social distance.

In hotels for this certification there should be enough space to ensure social distance for the safety of staff and tourists. In particular, a buffet with a buffet is prohibited, the number of tables and chairs in one room is reduced so that there is an appropriate distance between them. A limited number of tourists will be allowed on board the sightseeing buses, keeping a distance of at least 1.5-2 meters between them. Thermoregulation systems are also needed to monitor the temperature of tourists and staff. All participants in the system must be guaranteed to be equipped with personal protective equipment and disinfection. In hotels and similar institutions, there must be a risk manager who needs to know how to act in case of an outbreak.

To successfully test the new system, Turkey is working on the following strategy.

At the first stage, the new practice will be tested in the domestic tourism market. At the second stage, measures will be taken to approve this type of certification with an international standard. It is assumed that the expansion of the certification process to the international level will reduce the costs of the national tourism sector, with a portion of the costs to external partners.

The potential of partner countries, as well as international organizations, including the World Tourism Organization, the World Health Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (SECTRIC, SMIIK), the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking states and other structures will be involved in the implementation of new Virus Free System standards.

As Turkish Vice President F.Octay noted during online negotiations with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan S. Umurzakov, the Turkish side plans to use the new certification system as part of one of the projects in Uzbekistan.

In particular, earlier an agreement was reached on the construction of a hotel in Bukhara with the attraction of Turkish investments. The future hotel will have a new certificate, which will turn it into one of the first pilot projects in the world under the new system.

Experts suggest that Uzbekistan may become an attractive destination for tourists in the period after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic due to work on the introduction of the Virus-Free certification system, as well as the relatively low prevalence of a new type of coronavirus in the country.