Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- During his visit to Andijan region on 21-22 May, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev instructed to develop domestic tourism, in particular, to turn Khanabad into a tourist center of the Ferghana Valley.

On behalf of the President, under the leadership of the Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the State Committee for Tourism Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Aziz Abdukhakimov, relevant work was done. Aziz Abdukhakimov got acquainted with the state of a number of tourist facilities in Andijan region, with the organization of tourist villages in the region and the development of domestic tourism, and also met with representatives of the Khanabad city administration, tourist organizations and entrepreneurs on the issues of turning Khanabad into a tourist center.

During the meeting, officials of the khokimiyat and relevant departments, entrepreneurs engaged in the provision of tourism services, heads of tourism facilities raised urgent issues, exchanged views and suggestions on tourism development in the region.

At the meeting, the world experience in attracting tourists was discussed, and officials were given the necessary recommendations and instructions on the implementation of Presidential instructions. To implement these recommendations and instructions, representatives of the State Committee for Tourism Development, the Andijan Regional Branch of the Committee, khokimiyats and relevant organizations and institutions launched a permanent study in Khanabad on 25 May.

In particular, at a meeting with the heads of a number of organizations and units of the city administration, issues of timely and high-quality implementation of the President’s instructions to turn Khanabad into a tourist center, concepts and sanitary conditions in the region were discussed.

To ensure and monitor the implementation of these tasks, a special working group was created, consisting of representatives of khokimiyats, relevant organizations and institutions. The working group examined the state of tourism facilities in Khanabad and is currently developing a program of appropriate measures to address identified shortcomings. They also talked about accelerating work to attract investment in tourism.

In addition, special attention was paid to the issue of sanitary-hygienic preparation of the region to receive tourists in the post-pandemic period. To this end, working groups, consisting of representatives of the Agency for Sanitary and Epidemiological Well-being under the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, examined the requirements of medical safety and social distance in each sanatorium, boarding houses, children's camps, cafes and restaurants. The relevant acts are being developed, since this organization is directly responsible for the sanitary and hygienic safety of these facilities.

At the end of the pandemic, measures to create tourism services in the Andijan region will be ready for execution and will be launched from the day of official permission. This will ensure the functioning of 43 places of pilgrimage and cultural heritage, 5 sanatoriums, 375 cafes, restaurants and 125 teahouses in the region, and most importantly - will contribute to the restoration of jobs for about 12 thousand people.

After the meeting, Aziz Abdukhakimov, together with representatives of the working group, studied the shortcomings identified on the basis of appeals from entrepreneurs, examined tourist sites and gave officials the necessary instructions for the development of tourism entrepreneurship.

It should be noted that another group of representatives of the department is currently working on the transformation of the village of Imam Ota in Khojaabad district into a tourist village and the organization of additional tourist services.