Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- To raise the level of tourism in the economy of Uzbekistan to a strategic level, sharply increase the scale of domestic tourism services, create the necessary conditions for familiarizing citizens with the country’s tourism potential, systematic work is underway to accelerate the development of modern service infrastructure, and also to provide employment and expand their sources of income.

In order to ensure the timely implementation of the resolution of the President of Uzbekistan “On additional measures to diversify domestic tourism services”, a 7-day special training course for responsible persons working in the regions has started at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In total, 230 listeners participate in the seminar. 

The event was attended by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, deputy khokims for tourism and cultural heritage in the regions and the city of Tashkent, heads of regional departments under the Ministry of Cultural Heritage Tourism, heads of regional departments and services for economic development of districts.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Heritage Aziz Abdukhakimov noted the need to eliminate shortcomings in the preparation of hotels, museums, cultural heritage sites, transport, roads, services, restaurants to receive tourists.

“By the end of the year, we have a number of priorities set by the President for the industry. In particular, the launch of one major project worth at least US$20 million in each region to attract tourists “magnetically” and increase domestic tourism by at least 10 million this year, as well as the organization of 186 international and local festivals in the regions. We must do everything possible to attract an additional 1 million foreign and 5 million domestic tourists,” said Aziz Abdukhakimov.

At the end of the training course, participants plan to develop draft Roadmaps for each district and mahalla, with the participation of officials from relevant ministries and departments, the presentation of which will take place at the end of the course.

Every day, within the framework of the seminar, the Deputy Ministers of Tourism and Cultural Heritage B. Shakhriyorov, N. Zikrillaev, a number of foreign experts and associate professors will present reports on the priorities of reforms in the tourism sector and the important tasks facing the industry.