Uzbekistan intends to implement a set of measures to restore and develop domestic tourism. One of its main parts is a new system of sanitary and epidemiological safety for tourists in Uzbekistan. Safe travel guaranteed (Uzbekistan. Safe travel guaranteed). Today it was presented to Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The President stressed that for a start it is necessary to allow domestic tourism between regions with a “green” status. Instructions were given on the organization of recreation centers in mountainous areas and on the coast of lakes using light structures. Together with the khokims, the location of the recreation centers will be determined, the relevant data will be posted on the electronic portal.
At the second stage, it is necessary to form a list of countries with a stable situation in coronavirus and gradually restore tourist ties with them, the meeting indicated.
“For the resumption of tourism, first of all, there must be a clear answer to a number of fundamental questions. For example, how will the hotels operate, how will they receive tourists at the airport, how to organize their movement within the country? The defined rules should be simple and at the same time sufficient to prevent disease. It is necessary to develop a system that does not require the quarantine of the entire hotel due to one case of infection, “Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.
Tourism entrepreneurs who have suffered losses due to the pandemic are unlikely to be able to cover them in the next 1-2 years. In this regard, the President stressed the need to provide additional benefits and preferences to this industry.
What is the next in tourism in Uzbekistan?
In particular, the previously granted exemption from tourist taxes will be extended until the end of the year. Also, when calculating income tax, enterprises in the industry will be allowed to deduct losses incurred in 2020-2021 from the profits of subsequent years.
The hotels will receive subsidies in the amount of 10 percent of the cost of their services. In addition, they will be subsidized up to 10 percent of payments on loans allocated for working capital.
It should be reminded that since March 16, Uzbekistan is closed for foreign and local tourists. As a result, more than 1.5 thousand tour operators and 1.2 thousand hotels have suspended their activities. This seriously affected the incomes of more than 250 thousand people, including guides, artisans, workers of architectural monuments and resort institutions, catering facilities, transport and others.
To mitigate the effects of the pandemic, a number of preferences were provided to the tourism industry. In particular, 1,750 constituent entities were provided with privileges on property tax, land and social taxes in the amount of about 60 billion soums. But these benefits and preferences are temporary. For continuous sustainable development, it is necessary to learn how to work in a pandemic.