Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In order to expand international cooperation in the tourism development, attracting direct investment and promoting the country’s tourism opportunities among potential investors and guests of Uzbekistan, the First International Tourism Investment Forum will be held in Tashkent on 19-20 November. The first two days the forum will work at Tashkent “Uzexpocenter”, on the third day it is planned to go to the main tourist centers.

At the end of 2016, President S. Mirziyoyev signed a Decree “On measures to ensure the accelerated development of the tourism industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, which determined the positive dynamics of its development in 2018. In particular, in the first 9 months of this year, the number of foreign visitors amounted to 4.4 million people compared to 2.2 million in the same period of 2017.

The introduction of visa free regime with 18 countries, simplified regime for obtaining visas for 50 countries and transit visa for 101 countries has become a significant impetus for the development of inbound tourism in Uzbekistan. In just 3 months of operation of the E-visa system, about 19,5 thousand electronic visas were issued by citizens of 49 countries.

It is important to note that the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed the Resolution “On Additional Measures for the Effective Implementation of the First International Investment Forum in the tourism sphere in Tashkent from November 19-21, 2018 ”, within  exceptional conditions provided for investors, namely the possibility of allocating an investor for specific investment obligations of land for the construction of tourist infrastructure without electronic auctions.

It is also noted that measures have been taken to increase entrepreneurial activity for investment, including the provision of tax and customs benefits for businessmen in the tourism sphere, simplification of licensing and certification procedures, making tourism more attractive for foreign investment. Prominent foreign companies of Turkey, China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Russia and other countries have expressed interest in developing joint projects in the creation of various infrastructure tourist facilities in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The Forum in the tourism sphere is organized by the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Tourism Development, the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Investments, the Ministry of the Republic of Uzbekistan of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan.

The forum will bring together 300 participants from 48 countries, representatives of international financial institutions and organizations in the tourism sector, experts and specialists in the tourism industry, heads of major domestic and foreign companies.

Together with this, the Forum will be covered by more than 30 media representatives from 16 foreign countries.

Within the framework of the event over 500 investment projects from all regions of Uzbekistan, including such projects as free tourist zones of “Charvak”, Samarkand city, Ancient  Bukhara, small tourist areas in the Surkhandarya region is planned to present, as well as Olmazor City and Farg’ona yo’li (route) projects in the city of Tashkent and many others.

The projects include hotel and shopping complexes, resort areas, health centers, theme parks, restaurants, agro-tourist camps and more.

According the program of the Forum the Opening ceremony of the event, the presentation of investment projects in the tourism sphere, meeting sessions, B2B and B2G meetings are scheduled for.

Following the results of the International Investment Forum in the tourism sphere, signing of agreements and memorandums of cooperation between investors, ministries, departments and hokimiyats (city administrations) are expected.

Also, the Forum program provides for visits to the regions of the Republic by potential investors in case of their interest in a particular project.