Uzbekistan approves Samarkand development and tourism support programs

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan has signed two strategically important decrees aimed at accelerated socio-economic development of territories and stimulating the country's tourism potential.

The first document approves a complex of measures to improve the living standards of the population and industrialize remote districts of the Samarkand region, while the second officially launches a large-scale state program to support inbound and domestic tourism.

According to the decree on the comprehensive development of the Samarkand region, several large investment projects are being launched in the agricultural sector within the region. Before 1 August of the current year, the planting of potato mini-tubers will be organized in the Akdarya district across an area of 100 hectares. The resulting harvest of 4,000 tons of elite seeds of the super-super-elite category will be distributed free of charge among local dekhkan farms. In the Bulungur district, in cooperation with partners from the People's Republic of China, construction will begin on a major breeding enterprise with an annual capacity of 100,000 head of livestock, with the total cost of the project estimated at US$50 million.

Concurrently, a high-tech complex for breeding poultry lines worth US$20 million and with a capacity of 800,000 units per year will be established in the Akdarya, Koshrabat, and Samarkand districts with the participation of investors from the Netherlands. To address environmental challenges and involve arid lands into circulation, new almond and pistachio plantations will be established in the Pakhtachi district on an area of 28.6 hectares using drip irrigation systems.

The second direction of state support is the establishment of the annual three-month "Open Tourism Season" program, which will operate from June to August. As part of this initiative, the state will partially compensate from the budget the expenses of domestic and foreign airlines that launch new international flights to Uzbekistan. In addition, a direct subsidy of US$100 will be paid to air carriers for each foreign tourist brought into the country.

Financial preferences will also affect the domestic market: tour operators that are residents of Uzbekistan will be allocated a subsidy of US$5,000 for every 1,000 travelers attracted from a list of promising countries. A 50 percent value-added tax (VAT) refund for provided hotel and tour operator services is also provided in the form of a cashback.

In order to digitally promote the national brand, the government will fully cover advertising costs on the world's leading online tourism platforms and provide free seven-day trips across the republic for 50 foreign bloggers whose social media audience exceeds 5 million subscribers.