On additional measures to accelerate the development of the tourism potential of the Republic, as well as further increase the number of local and foreign tourists

Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
In order to make the fullest and most effective use of the tourism potential, first of all, to accelerate the solution of problems in transport, logistics and tourism infrastructures, as well as to create additional conditions for business entities operating in the tourism sector through the full use of available resources and opportunities of the republic:

1. Approve:

Target indicators of tourism development in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and the city of Tashkent in 2023 according to Appendix No. 1;

Targets for passenger transportation by air and rail in the spring-summer season of 2023 according to Appendices No. 2a and 2b;

The address list of works on repair of highways leading to objects of tourism and cultural heritage on the territory of the republic in 2023, according to appendix No. 3;

The Roadmap for the comprehensive use of available resources and opportunities, as well as the prompt solution of existing problems in the tourism sector in 2023 according to Annex No. 4a;

The "roadmap" of cultural and entertainment events held in the tourism sector in 2023, according to Appendix No. 4b;

Plans of measures for the development of tourism in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and the city of Tashkent, implemented in 2023, according to Annexes No. 5a – 5o.

2. To form a Republican Working Group on the development of tourism in the country (hereinafter referred to as the Republican Working Group) in accordance with Annex No. 6 and Regional Working Groups (hereinafter referred to as Regional Working Groups) in standard composition according to Annex No. 7.

3. To approve the proposals of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Transport, the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan and higher educational organizations of the Republic to assign the relevant regions to higher educational organizations in order to assist in increasing the tourism potential of the regions.

4. Approve the list of regions assigned to higher educational organizations, according to Appendix No. 8, and assign these higher educational organizations the following tasks to increase the tourism potential of the region:

assistance in studying the tourism potential of the region, creating content in various languages about the region and its history, about tourist sites and their features, their promotion, as well as in creating travel packages;

expanding the possibilities of applying the research of professors and teachers in practice, as well as the theoretical knowledge of students
in the field of tourism, ensuring the harmonization of theoretical knowledge and practice;

assistance in improving the quality of tourist services provided by the population in the regions, and professional development of personnel.

5. To approve the Schedule for attracting foreign tourists to Uzbekistan in 2023 by the diplomatic missions of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign countries in accordance with Annex No. 9.

6. Assign to:

a) Republican Working Group (Aripov A., Abdukhakimov A.) tasks on:

monitoring the implementation of targets and measures defined by this resolution and its annexes, as well as discussing work in this direction at least once a month;

hearing reports of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, khokims of regions and the city of Tashkent, heads of relevant ministries and departments on the work carried out in the field of tourism;

timely elimination and prevention in the future of problems arising in the field of tourism, coordination of the activities of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as well as other ministries and departments;

quarterly submission of a report to the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on increasing the country's tourism potential;

b) Regional working groups tasks on:

to hear once every two weeks information from regional departments of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on the conditions created locally in the field of tourism, on the work carried out to attract local and foreign tourists;

to approve and ensure timely and high-quality implementation of measures for a separate discussion of existing problems on the ground in the field of tourism, increase tourism potential with the identification of responsible persons;

preparation of proposals to increase the tourism potential of the region, increase the number of local and foreign tourists;

c) The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the khokims of the regions and the city of Tashkent – tasks to achieve the targets for the development of tourism defined in Annex No. 1 to this resolution;

d) Minister of Transport Makhkamov I.R. – tasks to achieve the passenger transportation targets defined in Annexes No. 2a and 2b to this resolution;

e) First Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Azamova U.A., as well as heads of responsible ministries and departments – tasks for timely and high-quality implementation of the measures defined in Annexes No. 4a and 4b to this resolution.

7. The Committee on Highways under the Ministry of Transport, together with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, to ensure the repair of highways leading to tourism and cultural heritage sites approved in accordance with Annex No. 3 to this resolution, within the funds provided for the construction and repair of highways in the parameters of the state budget for 2023.

8. The Ministry of Economy and Finance, together with the Ministry of Transport, within two months to submit to the Cabinet of Ministers a draft law providing for the allocation of additional funds in the amount of 30 billion soums from the state budget for 2023 to subsidize local air services.

To establish that the Ministry of Transport, in coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, determines the mechanisms for subsidizing flights based on their workload.

9. Establish the procedure according to which from May 1, 2023:

until July 1, 2024, as an experiment, funds in the amount of 20 percent of the value added tax indicated in the invoices submitted to foreign partners for tour packages (covering accommodation services, automobile or railway transport, excursion services and meals) providing for the provision of services to 5 or more non-residents by business entities providing tour operator services, are returned to these subjects from the republican budget in the form of a subsidy;

until May 1, 2026, local tour operators, business entities in the field of tourism, providing accommodation services or engaged in the transportation of passengers by road, when importing into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan vehicles used in their passenger transportation activities and having ten or more seats, including the driver's seat, as well as from the date of issue of which it has been no more than 5 years (HS codes 8702 10, 8702 40, 8702 90), the right to pay value added tax in installments for 12 months without accrual of interest and the requirement to ensure their payment is granted.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Central Bank, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, together with the ministries and departments concerned, ensure the timely implementation of the procedure provided for in this paragraph.

10. To take note that for the promotion of tourist products of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign tourist markets, 50 billion soums will be allocated for 2023.

Ministry of Culture and Tourism:

a) within a month:

together with the ministries and departments concerned, to ensure the operation of museums and theaters on non-working days and holidays, as well as at a time convenient for visitors;

take measures to expand the types of services provided in the unified call center of the Ministry;

b) by June 1, 2023, approve the Procedure for compensation of expenses for advertising national tourism products and services of the Republic of Uzbekistan on international prestigious tourism and marketing platforms.

To determine that the funds allocated annually from the state budget to the Tourism Support Fund for the promotion of tourist products of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign tourist markets are transferred to the State Unitary Enterprise "National PR Center" under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for the implementation of the established tasks.

11. To the Ministry of Transport:

a) to lift restrictions on flights and flights for foreign airlines within a week and apply the "fifth freedom of air" within the framework of the introduced "Open Skies" regime at the Samarkand International Airport, as well as notify the aviation authorities of foreign states and foreign air carriers in accordance with the established procedure;

b) from May 1, 2023 together with Uzbekistan Airports JSC:

to establish regular flights from Ferghana, Namangan or Andijan to Bukhara, Samarkand, Termez, Urgench, as well as on such routes as Termez – Nukus, Samarkand – Urgench, Bukhara – Urgench, Fergana – Urgench;

organize flights from Tashkent to Nukus, Urgench, Bukhara, Karshi and Samarkand with the introduction of tariffs up to two times cheaper than the current ones;

c) ensure the allocation of quotas for flights on foreign flights for newly established resident airlines;

d) within a month, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, based on this resolution, take measures to amend international agreements providing for the allocation of quotas for flights of foreign and international flights, as well as the granting of permits for these flights to newly established resident airlines;

e) by October 1, 2023, to announce separate tenders for the modernization and transfer to the management of the airports "Urgench" and "Bukhara" on the basis of the terms of public-private partnership for each of them;