On August 14, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on projects to enhance tourism potential of the country.

The suspension of international flights and the introduction of restrictions on traffic due to the coronavirus pandemic have had a robust impact on the tourism industry around the world. Over 1.5 thousand travel agents and 1.2 thousand hotels in Uzbekistan, for instance, have faced recess, resulting naturally in the income check among thousands of people in trade, handicrafts, transport, public catering and other related areas.

In this respect, measures are taken by the government to promote the travel industry. The presidential decree on urgent measures to support the tourism sector to reduce the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic, signed on May 28, and the resolution on additional measures to develop the tourism sector in strict compliance with the requirements of the enhanced sanitary and epidemiological safety regime, inked on June 19, are rather suggestive of these efforts. The documents introduced a number of preferences for the industry in order to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. In general, Uzbekistan is bent on cashing in novel methods and opportunities to sustain tourism amid pandemic.

Under the August 12 decision of the Republican Special Commission, the movement of vehicles, domestic air and rail traffic is allowed starting from August 15. Sanatoria, boarding houses, children’s summer camps, hotels, guest houses, beaches, hostels and other recreation facilities will resume receiving customers. This is anticipated to deliver everything that would make tourism thrive again.

Today’s presentations were about the efforts currently undertaken and plans for the future.

Bostanlyk district of Tashkent region boasts a high tourism potential. However, the available opportunities have barely been utilized over the years. Despite the picturesque nature, enjoyable climate and the opportunity to relax all year round, the district has scarcely seen large-scale and modern projects capable of attracting travelers. Today, a number of pressing issues are expected to be addressed in this part of the country, along with the creation of tourist zones.

“Principal purpose is to ensure the rule of law in the field of tourism, create spacious, inexpensive, safe and cozy recreation areas that allow one to receive guests all year round. People from all parts of Uzbekistan should come to places like Bostanlyk, and projects executed here should be a pattern for other regions to follow,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev pointed out.

According to data, our citizens annually spend about $ 1.2 billion on vacations abroad. One of the main reasons for this is the insufficiency in modern tourist areas in Uzbekistan that meet contemporary requirements.

To address the situation, extensive projects have been implemented by entrepreneurs in recent years across the nation, including in the Bostanlyk district. To cite an example, the world-class Amirsoy complex was built and commissioned within a year and a half. This proved the possibility of spearheading ambitious projects.

The President inquired into the complex of facilities due to be commissioned in Bostanlyk district in the coming years, and made some recommendations to perfect them.

They included a project to create an international resort Beldersai-Chimgan-Nanai. Its concept and economic model were developed by a consortium of French companies with a grant from the FASEP Foundation in the amount of 750 thousand euros.

The total project cost is $ 480 million, including $ 280 million in direct investment. It is sought to promote entrepreneurship by boosting the value of land and the investment attractiveness of the district.

The project consists of three stages. The first implies the creation of an all-season resort in the Chimgan area. It is planned to develop tourism infrastructure, including suspension bridges, ski trails and attractions, through a concessional loan from France in the amount of 48 million euros. As a result, ski tourism will become popular, modern conditions will be created for local and foreign tourists, and entrepreneurship will develop. The launch of the first phase of the project is scheduled for December 2021.

An important requirement of projects is to provide ample opportunities for successful entrepreneurs on the basis of public-private partnerships. Additional types of services will be organized in the tourist zone based on the development of goat and camel breeding and beekeeping. Separate plots of land on the resort will be granted to youths who will be able to fully implement their ideas for the advancement of tourism.

New resorts will emerge in villages around the Charvak reservoir. This will help solve employment issues.

In Bostanlyk district, efforts are directed also at promoting tourism and services infrastructure based on empty and inefficiently used facilities. In particular, it is planned to privatize about 80 such objects. This will reduce the participation of the state in tourism and give an impetus to the growth of private enterprise. Up to 15 thousand new jobs are anticipated to be created. Owing to increased competition, acceptable prices for services are to be formed.

The presentations also provided information on efforts to identify and register illegal entities.

In particular, in order to simplify the accounting of taxation objects in the Bostanlyk district, a mobile application orom.uz and a single electronic platform were developed. More than 3.7 thousand landlords are registered through it. In addition, strong points were created and more than 16 thousand facilities were taken stock. As a result, tax revenues have almost tripled compared to the same period last year.

Measures are being taken in the district to build and repair road infrastructure. Specifically, highways have been overhauled, drainage pipes been laid to divert groundwater, so have more than 10 kilometers of footpaths.

The President stressed the need to build and repair roads based on thoroughly thought-out and cost-effective projects.

Increased inflow of tourists also requires rational waste management. It is estimated that an average of 102 tons of household waste is generated in Bostanlyk district a day.

To solve this problem, to improve the cleaning system of the territories, it is intended to upsurge the number of waste collection points and special equipment, as well as to establish an environmental inspection. As a result, the entire territory of the district will be covered by sanitary cleaning services.

Work is also underway to improve drinking water supply and sewerage networks in the area. Since the start of the year, 7.6 kilometers of drinking water supply networks, pumps and water towers have been built. In the next two years, it is planned to lay 36 kilometers of water pipelines, 3.5 kilometers of sewerage and about 10 hydraulic engineering and sewerage facilities.

Particular attention was paid during the discussion to improving the power supply of the district. The President instructed to repair the existing power grids, erect facilities for generating electricity from water, wind and solar energy, and meet 50 percent of the needs of tourist facilities from these alternative sources.

A project for the creation of mobile recreation centers based on light structures on mountain slopes, lands of forest and water resources was also considered during the presentation. The head of our state underscored the importance of equitable land allocation through electronic auctions, increasing the liability of land users for activities harmless to the nature.

In order to develop the district as a full-fledged tourist zone and successfully implement the scheduled projects, Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed to entrust the task of parallel management of the Bostanlyk district, as an experiment, to the Deputy Prime Minister – Chairman of the State Committee for Tourism Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The President set the task to double the tourist potential of the district in the next two years by enlarging the influx of tourists and types of services provided.

Source: Official website of the President of Uzbekistan