In Uzbekistan, a subsidy is allocated to tour operators for each foreign tourist

The presidential decision "On measures to further accelerate reforms in the field of tourism and effectively organize the state management system in the sector" was adopted. This was reported by the "Legal Information" channel on Telegram.

According to the decision, from January 1, 2024:

tour operators allocate an incentive subsidy from $20 to $100 in equal shares for each tourist brought to Uzbekistan from foreign countries with a low tourist flow;
A part of the expenses of tour operators and air carriers for charter flights from abroad to the airports of Samarkand, Bukhara and Urganch is equivalent to $20 for each foreign tourist who stays at least 5 nights in the republic, and $50 during the winter season (from November 20 to February 20). will be paid in equal shares.
Also, in the event that a hotel of not less than five floors with a stock of not less than 60 rooms for the 3-star category and not less than 120 rooms for the 4- and 5-star category is put into operation by December 31, 2026, after the hotel category is approved , a part of the expenses of the investors for the construction and equipment of the new hotel will be reimbursed in the following amounts:

40 million soums for each room in 3-star hotels;
65 million soums for each room in 4- and 5-star hotels.
Until December 31, 2026, the royalty expenses of the organizations that are residents of Uzbekistan using the world's prestigious hotel brands (in the top-50 hotel brands and top-5 hotel chains) within 3 years from the date of entry into force of the franchise agreement will be as follows will be partially financed in the amount of:

For a hotel with a 3-star category - equivalent to $200 per year for each hotel room;
For a 4-star hotel - equivalent to $400 per year for each hotel room;
For a hotel with a 5-star category - equivalent to $600 per year for each hotel room.
From January 1, 2024, the "Accessible Tourism" program aimed at creating a comfortable environment for people with disabilities to travel will be implemented.

Until July 1, 2026, in hard-to-reach and remote areas (at least 10 kilometers from populated areas or 5 kilometers from paved highways), which have created separate autonomous infrastructure, set up campsites and provide "safari" tourism services the tax on the property of legal entities for this type of activity and the rates of land tax collected from legal entities are determined in the amount of 1 percent of the amount calculated for these taxes.

Every year from the 2023/2024 academic year, the International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage "Silk Road" will receive 10 billion sous for the citizens of the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Organization of Turkic States and the countries located on the Great Silk Road to study at the master's level on the basis of a state grant. funds will be allocated in the amount of not less than

From September 1, 2023, the following requirements will be canceled:

travel agents must have at least two foreign language websites that provide electronic payments and booking services;
that tour operators have a website that provides electronic payment services.
Number of tourists and export of services

According to estimates, the number of tourists who entered the republic in 2019 increased by 3.3 times compared to 2016. About 6.7 million tourists traveled in Uzbekistan that year. As a result, tourism services worth 1.6 billion dollars were exported. This indicator was equal to 430.7 million dollars in 2016.

More than 7 million foreign tourists are expected to visit the country in 2020. However, in the conditions of a severe pandemic, along with all other sectors, tourism has been hit hard, the number of tourists has decreased to a significant level. That is, in 2020, 1.5 million tourists came to the republic, tourism services worth 261 million dollars were exported.

source: daryo.uz