Uzbekistan to Extend Visa-Free Stay for Arab Countries to 30 Days
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan recently convened a meeting to discuss ways to enhance the country’s tourism potential and expedite investment projects in the sector. During the session, the president emphasized the importance of attracting more tourists from the Gulf countries, which currently account for approximately 3 million travelers. However, many of these tourists currently prefer destinations like Albania, Croatia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, where visa-free regimes are already in place.
In an effort to increase tourist inflows, President Mirziyoyev suggested extending the visa-free entry period for visitors from these countries to 30 days, as opposed to the current 10-day period. This move could potentially result in a five to six-fold increase in tourist numbers. Additionally, the president proposed simplifying visa procedures for visitors from India, Pakistan, Egypt, and Iran.
The president also highlighted the success of targeted marketing efforts aimed at specific regions of Russia and China in boosting tourist arrivals from these countries. He instructed for a similar approach to be adopted for Europe, Japan, and South Korea. Expanding international flight routes was identified as a key strategy for attracting more tourists, with the launch of direct flights to Poland resulting in a significant increase in tourist arrivals from Eastern Europe.
Uzbekistan has made significant investments in its aviation sector, with the purchase of 14 Airbus aircraft and the leasing of 5 more, as well as negotiations underway to acquire 12 additional Boeing planes. Relevant agencies have been tasked with evaluating potential routes and tourist inflows based on these aviation capabilities.
Furthermore, the country aims to attract 100,000 pilgrims from Malaysia and Indonesia through the “Umrah Plus” program. Efforts are underway to expedite negotiations to launch flights from Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta to Jeddah via Samarkand and Bukhara.
President Mirziyoyev also stressed the importance of creating a unified national tourism platform that offers services such as electronic visa issuance and the ability to purchase tickets for all types of transport. By taking these steps, Uzbekistan hopes to further boost its tourism sector and attract a wider range of international visitors.
