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The coronavirus pandemic will disrupt the spring travel season around the world. The economy of Uzbekistan may also suffer losses. Deputy Prime Minister Aziz Abdukhakimov spoke in an interview with Nikita Makarenko about what measures the government is preparing to take during the crisis.

The travel ban and quarantine measures will hit the tourism sector, triggering a crisis unprecedented in history. On March 6, the World Tourism Organization announced that the global tourism industry would lose between $ 30 billion and $ 50 billion due to the pandemic.

Uzbekistan is preparing for the fact that in the spring of 2020 the domestic tourism sector will suffer losses. Already today, judging by canceled bookings, the industry has lost 45-50 thousand tourists from Italy, China, South Korea, Japan, Germany and France. This is estimated to have resulted in a loss of nearly $ 31 million to the country's economy. This figure is increasing daily.

An operational headquarters has been created in the government of Uzbekistan. A video conference was held with the connection of the country's regions, in which representatives of travel companies, the HORECA sphere and responsible heads of ministries, departments and transport companies took part. It discussed all the risks and listened to proposals from industry representatives to overcome the crisis. Local meetings were also held.

Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Committee for Tourism Development Aziz Abdukhakimov spoke about the measures that the government is going to take to overcome the crisis period in an interview with Nikita Makarenko:

“We see what measures other countries are taking to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. All of this affects the tourism industry. Many countries completely stop air traffic. Already today, tourists have canceled reservations for about 50 thousand rooms in March and April. Entrepreneurs are taking real losses. But the President of Uzbekistan considers tourism to be a strategic industry. Therefore, the government began to develop measures so that the pandemic would have the least impact on it, ”said Aziz Abdukhakimov.

Domestic tourism

We have started a lot of work on the development of domestic tourism. Internal flows should compensate for the absence of foreign tourists. Investors have invested heavily in the construction of hotels, and they should not be idle. The government is going to subsidize travel within the country if a tourist travels from one region to another.

For example, factory workers from Navoi travel by bus to Khiva for two to three days. On average, the costs of the plant for such a trip will be 550-600 thousand soums per person per day. If the project is approved, the state will compensate 150-200 thousand soums. For this, it is proposed to create a special fund. We plan that this practice will provide 500 thousand hotel nights, which will compensate for the losses from the absence of foreign tourists.

Another example. Fergana Valley. It is planned to organize tours by rail. It will cost 700 thousand per person, and subsidies will be provided. We will build the right logistics. Day off will be provided for people to check out on Friday morning and return on Sunday evening. Now with the company "Uzbekiston Temir Yullari" they are discussing changes in the train schedule, special for this tourist product.

The Golden Week practice that existed in 2017 will be restored. So that people have up to five days off on Navruz, Hayit and Independence Day. So that they can go on tourist trips with their families. We encourage employers to go to workers and pay for family travel. These costs will then be deducted from the tax base.

Now, in the context of regions and districts, we are drawing up a schedule so that all regions do not go at the same time. We will negotiate with bus companies and Uzbekiston Temir Yullari so that they adjust, and people go on tourist trips directly to the districts. Uzbekistan Airways introduces 50% discounts on domestic flights, their number will also be increased due to the flights removed from foreign flights due to the pandemic.

Much needs to be paid to advertising for domestic tourism. Traveling around the country is a sign of patriotism, especially in times of crisis. Because the money remains inside the country. During the crisis, you need to support the economy of your country, review your trips abroad and visit Samarkand, Bukhara, Shakhrisabz and Khiva.

Now the Ministry of Health does not recommend our citizens to travel to China, the countries of Southeast Asia. We offer tour operators to guide these people for travel within the country. Many people want to go to Umrah. Saudi Arabia closed its borders this year. A person can postpone the trip for next year, and this year visit sacred places in Uzbekistan.

Tourism business support

We work to ensure that our tour operators do not suffer from cancellations by foreign tourists. Uzbekiston Temir Yollari has already made a decision that it will not take fines from operators for canceled tickets. Uzbekistan Airways is also ready to support us. Hotels will not charge penalties for canceled reservations. Many foreign companies also understand this, go to a meeting, do not fine our tour operators. Among other things, they are actively assisted by our Association of Private Tour Operators and the embassies of our country abroad.

We plan to provide tax holidays to the subjects of the tourism industry, residents of Uzbekistan, until July 1. Freeze their tax accruals so that they pay off later.

These are serious amounts. In the first half of the year, we expected 200 billion soums of taxes from the tourism industry. We are working to ensure that our banks are liberal towards those who build hotels. To freeze the accrual of interest on loans during the crisis.

Attracting foreign tourists

In the coming weeks, we plan to hold a summit of the heads of travel companies from Central Asia, Russia and Azerbaijan. To agree on the development of regional tourism. In these countries, the epidemic is under control, we see no risks with them. Uzbekistan Airways will offer discounts up to 20% on flights to CIS countries.

We are now analyzing the flows that went from Russia to China and other countries. We invite them to go to Uzbekistan. We get in touch with them, our tour operators are working. It is planned to attract tourists not only from Moscow and St. Petersburg, but also from Tyumen, Surgut, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk and other cities.

The opening of flights of low-cost airlines "Pobeda" and FlyArystan, as well as the opening of flights from Urgench to Samarkand, Bukhara and Aktau, from Samarkand to Almaty and St. Petersburg, from Bukhara to Kazan, Istanbul and Jakarta, from Tashkent to Kiev, as well as domestic flights between the cities of the Fergana Valley and historical cities.

As a result of the measures taken by the government, by the end of the year, the number of domestic tourists is expected to grow to 5 million, and another 580 thousand foreign tourists will visit the country. Domestic tourism will bring income in the amount of 840.5 billion soums, which will support the tourism industry during the crisis period.

This crisis provides opportunities that must be learned to use. The government is open to any dialogue, we will be happy to listen to any proposals, discuss, and try to implement.

We are improving logistics within the country, working with our tour operators to make tourism products affordable for the population. Obviously, the spring season will suffer. But we hope that we will be able to restore and increase the tourist flow in the autumn.

Source: gazeta.uz