The decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev “On measures of ensuring accelerated development of the tourism industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan” of December 2, 2016, served as an important factor in ensuring further development of the tourism sector, granting tourism the status of strategic sector of economy, effectively using tourism potential in the regions.
The State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Tourism Development was organized in order to identify and coordinate the implementation of targets and priority areas outlined in the decree.
Over the past short period, 16 normative legal acts aimed at comprehensive development of tourism potential of Uzbekistan have been adopted. On the basis of these documents, the entities of the tourism industry are granted significant tax and customs privileges and preferences.
Two new state standards have been developed and registered on terminology of tourism and requirements for the safety of hotel facilities in order to bring the tourism sphere of Uzbekistan in line with the requirements of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

In addition, posts of deputy khokims of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khorezm regions, as well as cities of Khiva and Shakhrisabz dealing with tourism issues are introduced by the corresponding resolution of the President of Uzbekistan for the purpose of further improvement of the management system in the sphere of tourism in the regions.
Over the past period, in accordance with the instructions of the Head of Uzbekistan, programs aimed at improving the tourism infrastructure in Khorezm, Bukhara, Samarkand, Surkhandarya, Kashkadarya, Jizzakh and Fergana regions, the organization of new tourist routes and wide promotion of tourism potential of the regions have been adopted. In particular, activities are being held on creation of round-the-clock tourist zones “Ancient Bukhara” and “Samarkand-City” in Bukhara and Samarkand with an area of 10 hectares each, which will be engaged in serving tourists.
The resolution of the President of our country “On priority measures of development of the sphere of tourism for 2018-2019” of August 16, 2017 has raised the level of activities in this direction to a new level.
In accordance with this resolution, a special program aimed at addressing important issues facing the sphere for 2018-2019 has been approved, Coordination council for tourism development has been established in order to ensure its full implementation and interdepartmental coordination in the sphere.
Based on this program, organization of similar individual tourism zones in the cities of Tashkent, Urgench and Fergana region is planned.
It is also envisaged to adopt separate programs in such areas of tourism as medical, recreational, agro- and ecotourism, within the framework of the program.
There are five higher educational institutions in country on training specialists in the field of tourism, including the Management Development Institute of Singapore in Tashkent, as well as more than ten specialized secondary educational institutions. The State Committee for Tourism Development promotes the development of qualifications of youth, receiving education in the tourism sector and industry specialists in major tourism centers and educational institutions of Europe and Asia.
Another important aspect in development of the sphere is creation of a unified database of all objects of historical and cultural heritage, natural and local lore, national protected areas, improvement of the normative legal framework of tourism sphere, integration of efforts of local authorities and the public for development of tourism in the regions. A firm legal basis has been established in Uzbekistan, special programs for the regions have been developed, and this process is consistently continuing with a view to carrying out activities in this direction.
Provision of priority participation of the private sector also plays an important role in the dynamic development of the tourism industry of our country. Currently, hundreds of entrepreneurs and artisans are involved in tourism, they are engaged in production of souvenirs, hotel facilities, provision of services to tourists.

Tourism exhibitions that are held abroad are important. Tourism organizations of Uzbekistan are organizing relevant events and participating in international exhibitions in such large cities of the world as Berlin, Istanbul, London, Madrid, Moscow, Paris, Riga, Tokyo, Tehran and others in order to popularize our national cultural heritage, further attract foreign tourists and develop domestic tourism. This, of course, gives its results, contributes to the growth of the flow of foreign tourists to Uzbekistan.
It should be noted that, about 1 million 800 thousand tourists visited Uzbekistan in 9 months of 2017, which is 17% more compared to the same period in 2016. The export of tourism services grew by 17 percent and amounted to 1 billion 86 million dollars. According to forecasts, by the end of the year the number of tourists arriving in Uzbekistan will exceed 2,5 million people.
In country, the prospects for the development of tourism are constantly expanding, and large-scale projects are being implemented in various areas. In particular, such new tourism destinations as mountaineering, horses, camels and bicycles traveling, off-road tours, fishing, rafting, heli-skiing, geotourism, educational tourism, medical tourism and others are becoming popular in recent years.