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Moreover, these restrictions also affected the Uzbeks themselves, for which
special exit visas issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs were introduced. In
general, the authorities actively monitored that
no one else came from abroad, and
their own did not scatter in other countries. It is necessary to recognize that in
difficult years of insecurity and a number of threats there were precautions. But the
situation is changing, and you need to keep up to date.
Moves in this area began with the advent of the new president. True, even here
it took a long and difficult journey. It would seem that at the end of 2016 the
authorities finally approved a new order, within the framework of which, from April
1, 2017, the visa regime was completely canceled for tourists from 15 countries for a
period not exceeding 30 days. In
addition, the report should be accessible to citizens
who have reached the age of 55, from 12 other countries.
However, a month later everything turned upside down. According to the new
decree of the head of state, the abolition of visas for 27 countries, from above, was
postponed until 2021. Six months later, in August 2017, a new benchmark appeared -
a permanent working group was created to prepare proposals for the phased
simplification of visa and registration procedures.
Then it seemed that the representatives of the power bloc re-entered the case,
which would drag out this process for many years. But on February 10, 2018, a visa-
free regime was introduced for a period of 30 days for citizens of seven states - Israel,
Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey and Japan.
Of course, these countries were chosen not by chance. For example, Turkey
and South Korea - one of the largest investors in the economy of the country,
representatives of these countries have long been living in the Uzbek market.
Travelers from Indonesia and Malaysia form a promising
stream of pilgrimage
tourism, from Japan, Israel and Singapore - cognitive.
In addition, Uzbekistan with the same time has simplified the procedure for
issuing tourist visas for citizens of 39 countries, including the United States, China,
India, Australia and others. It provides for the issue of a visa within two working
days, not counting the reception of documents, as well as cancels the requirement to
provide a tourist voucher or an inviting legal or physical person to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs
Another positive moment - in Uzbekistan since May 1, 2018 will start issuing
short-term visas to foreigners for a period of 72 hours. To speed up all inspection
procedures, the Uzbek side will introduce short-term transit access for foreign
travelers with such visas beyond the border zone of the airport for a familiarization
tour of approved tourist programs.
Tourists who come to Uzbekistan often say
that they are ready to return, but
here the prices for flights and hotel rooms "bite". Indeed, for a European, for
example, it is cheaper to fly to Turkey or Thailand, rather than enjoy the beauties of
Samarkand or Bukhara.
Also in the long term, the cost of flights can be reduced through the
introduction of public-private partnerships in airport management. Today, they all
belong to the state and not only do not generate revenues, but are unprofitable. In
Russia, for example, private companies are engaged in the management of
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bathhouses, which earn money not only on servicing aircraft, but also in the market
of passenger services.
In the coming years, the first such experiment will be conducted in Uzbekistan.
Private owners are planned to transfer the airport "Karshi",
to introduce there the
"Nepal" regime, including with the involvement of airline-low cost.
As for the regulation of prices for hotel rooms, Uzbekistan will not apply
administrative measures, but intends to operate market mechanisms. For example,
entrepreneurs willing to build new hotels will provide concessional loans, as well as
customs privileges for the import of necessary equipment. As a result of the
emergence of a larger number of players in the market and the aggravation of natural
competition, authorities believe, the prices for hotel rooms will go down.
Many foreign tourists are used not only to travel in comfort, but also to have a
rest for real. With this in the country there were certain problems - foreigners simply
had nowhere to go, and those entertainment establishments that worked closed at
23:00. The counted restaurant units worked until the last customer.
In addition, the process of issuing licenses for round-the-clock work will
become more transparent. Official sources will publish an order and a list of
entertainment facilities and other similar facilities with a 24-hour working schedule.
In this regard, in relation to such institutions, certain requirements will be established
for the availability of operational communication with the bodies of internal affairs.
Another important point - in the cities of the country there are practically no
zones with free Wi-Fi, to which the same Europeans are used. To stimulate business
to create them, the authorities provided a number of privileges and preferences.
Now, the tax base, including for a single tax payment, for operators, providers
and other economic entities engaged in this activity is reduced by the amount of
expenditures aimed at purchasing equipment and purchasing Internet traffic for the
deployment of Wi-Fi zones.
Remained in the past, and another unpleasant feature, which perplexed all
foreign tourists - a ban on photographing and shooting most of the public buildings.
Previously, militia mercilessly caught violators and forced to delete the cadres. In the
near future,
everything will change, foreigners will even be allowed to shoot in the
holy of all the saints - the metropolitan metro.
Will be "entertain" tourists and banks. They intend to invite them to buy gold
bullion as a memory of Uzbekistan and a good investment. Also in the country in the
coming months will simplify the procedure for exporting gold products abroad.
In addition, the program "Safe Tourism" is in full swing in the country. It
includes measures to equip tourist infrastructure with video surveillance, connect
objects that provide tourist services and ensure the safety of foreigners, to a single
information and communication system, to create a database
of tourists visiting the
region.
Their role is intended to play and law enforcement. In the regional departments
of the Ministry of Internal Affairs a special post was created - deputy head of tourism
security. In addition, in Tashkent, as well as in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khorezm
regions, "special patrols" came on constant alert, which caused a real sensation in
social networks.
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Employees of this unit are equipped with mobile translators,
speak several
foreign languages and are able to provide any necessary assistance to a foreign
tourist.
And of course, where without traditional Uzbek hospitality and affability. Both
the president and officials of different levels have repeatedly said that the country
needs to raise the culture of service in all areas - in transport, in the hotel business,
and in trade.
If a little more than 2.5 million foreign tourists visited Uzbekistan in the last
year, then with new rules and developing infrastructure this indicator can grow
several times in the coming years.
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