Our country represents a rich world for tourists. A unique location at the crossroads of the Silk Road is an important factor in the dynamic development of this sector in Uzbekistan, as well as the fact that the country has more than 7,000 monuments of different epochs and civilizations, many of which are included in UNESCO World Heritage List.
Only in one of Samarkand – the capital of the great state of Amir Temur – focused a lot of attractions, which are famous today around the world. Architectural ensemble Registan, Ulugbek observatory, famous mausoleum of Amir Temur, Bibi Khanum Mosque have become city’s decoration. This mausoleum was built by the order of Amir Temur, who is considered one of the finest examples of medieval architecture of the East.
Sacred Bukhara is not inferior to Samarkand’s abundance and importance of historical monuments and places of worship.
Majestic minarets, mosques and madrassas, bazaars and shopping domes, havuz-pools and areas are witnessing 2500 year history of Bukhara. Along with it Khiva, Shakhrisabz, Termez with equally rich centuries-old history and unique architectural masterpieces, has roused the admiration of ancestors and contemporaries.
Since independence Uzbekistan has developed radically new principles of state policy in the sphere of tourism. Thus, July 27, 1992 according to Resolution of the President Islam Karimov, National Company “Uzbektourism” has been created. This company was entrusted with the task of implementing state policy in this direction, formation of a national model of tourism development.
In 1999 the Law “On Tourism” was adopted. Its main purpose is legal regulation of relations in the field of hospitality sector and protection of the rights and legitimate interests of travelers and subjects of this sector.
In subsequent years, more than 30 laws were adopted on the basis of this document.
In addition, the country has accepted and executed sequentially target state and regional programs of development of the tourism industry. In particular, in the period of 1999-2005 the state program of development of tourism in Uzbekistan was implemented. In recent years regional programs to support leisure industry in Tashkent, Kashkadarya, Khorezm and other regions were implemented successfully.
Over the past period Uzbekistan gained image of the country with a dynamically developing modern tourist infrastructure.
In the country many new luxury hotels have been built, including nation-wide network of type B&B, which can provide high level of service for foreign guests. Along with major hotels, providing services under the world-renowned brands such as Radisson, Lotte, Ramada, Wyndham, in the capital and regions of Uzbekistan created a network of private institutions for small groups and family tourists.
Airports in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench, Navoi and Fergana have been modernized. Today there are 11 international air harbors in Uzbekistan. National air carrier “Uzbekistan Airways” has the most modern airliners, Boeing and Airbus, which carry out regular flights to over 50 cities of Europe, Asia, Middle East and North America. This year, National Airlines expects replenishment in its fleet with two new-generation airliners Boeing-787 Dreamliner, which will be an important step in raising the level of quality of travel services provided by our country.
Tourists have the opportunity to get to attractions and means of rail transport.
In 2011 between Tashkent and Samarkand started to run high-speed train Afrosiyob produced by Spanish company PATENTES TALGO S.L. In 2015 Afrosiyob started going to Karshi – administrative center of Kashkadarya region. Convenience and comfort of this train is noted both by foreign guests and local passengers.
Uzbekistan has created favorable conditions for businesses involved in the provision of tourism services. According to 2015 data, there are 1279 tourist organizations in the country, in particular, 548 hotels, hostels and campgrounds, 731 travel companies.
In recent years, new types of travel were introduced, including ecotourism, geotourism, extreme, health and cultural areas, as well as mountain climbing, rafting, fishing. In this process, the features and capabilities of each region are being taken into account. For example, in areas with few historic monuments develop ecotourism, geotourism, traveling off-road, in mountainous areas – extreme tours. Implementing a project on restoration of objects of cultural heritage, construction and reconstruction of tourist facilities, the development of new routes of ancient monuments and picturesque places.
The results of the reforms appear in a sequential increase in the number of travelers to the country. They delight not only the natural beauty of our region, its rich history, diverse culture and beautiful historical monuments, but also centuries-old traditions of Uzbek people, its warm hospitality, and of course, unrivaled cuisine.
Domestic tourism is also developing increasingly due to the growth of incomes of population of Uzbekistan and improvement of infrastructure of leisure industry. Every year millions of our fellow citizens travel around the country, where convenient transport facilities, comfortable hotels and high level of service is created.
In order to further increase the tourist flow, Uzbekistan is actively developing cooperation with many countries of the world.
In this context, intergovernmental and interagency agreements with a number of foreign countries have been signed. Cooperation with specialized international organizations in the field of tourism is no less important.
In particular, since 1993, Uzbekistan is a member of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which unites more than 150 countries. Since 2004, Regional Centre of UNWTO on Silk Road is located in Samarkand, which coordinates support for tourism on this transcontinental highway. While acknowledging the merits of our country in the sphere of development of the industry, Member States of of this Organization has repeatedly elected the Republic of Uzbekistan to the governing body – Executive Council, 99th Session of which took place in 2014 in Samarkand. Holding this forum on Uzbek land became further evidence of international community’s recognition of effectiveness of comprehensive measures for development of tourism industry.
Speaking at the opening session, Secretary General Taleb Rifai said that our country is playing a leading role in strengthening international cooperation for further development of tourism on Silk Road.
– We see a lot of changes in Uzbekistan. Under the wise and far-sighted leadership of President Islam Karimov, who has paid much attention to the development of tourism, the country could become one of the major centers of tourism development, the Secretary General of the UNWTO said.
An important role in ensuring the rapid development of the tourism sector of Uzbekistan at the present stage is occupied regularly held in the country, major events, which bring together representatives of the tourism industry from around the world to discuss the main trends of the industry dynamics and business linkages.
Since 1995, in the fall Uzbekistan annually holds Tashkent International Tourism Fair (TITF). This forum is a good platform for a constructive dialogue of partners operating in this sphere. In the past year the twenty-first fair took place, within which a presentation of tourism opportunities of Uzbekistan was held.
The project Hosted Buyers became the main innovation at TITF 2015.
Hosted Buyers is a specialized program of business meetings, for which special privileged buyer is pre-invited with a specific purpose that is to meet with interested partners and arrange for the sale of products, goods and services or implementation of a special joint program or project.
Since 2013, every year in April International Exhibition “World of Rest” is held, which opens the spring and summer tourist season in Uzbekistan. The event has represented the brightness and originality of regions’ culture, their tourism potential. The exhibition provides an opportunity for domestic and foreign tour operators to promote its products and services in the beginning of new season, to conclude contracts with large clients.
It should be noted that within the framework of the exhibition “World of Rest-2015” an international scientific-practical conference of the World Tourism Organization on the theme “Gastronomic tourism as a factor of competitive product” was held. During the forum participants discussed development of this type of tourism in Uzbekistan, further expansion of international cooperation in this regard.
Thus, Uzbekistan on its tourism potential takes one of the leading places in the world. Successes achieved in this area are the result of a comprehensive work on the further development of our country industry infrastructure, popularization of opportunities in of the country in this area.