TASHKENT (TCA) — The president of Uzbekistan has issued a decree that allows unmarried couples to share rooms in hotels across the former Soviet republic in Central Asia, RFE/RL reported.
According to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s decree, published by the National Information Agency of Uzbekistan, the move is being made to secure unmarried couples’ “right to a private life.”
“Hotel services must be provided regardless of individuals’ permanent addresses, citizenship, or status of their relations, including matrimonial relations,” the decree says.
The decree also orders the extension of the number of countries whose citizens can visit Uzbekistan without visas.
Additional visa-free regime will be established for 45 countries for 30 days from the date of entry into the territory of Uzbekistan from February 1, 2019, the official Jahon information agency reported.
These countries are Australia, Austria, Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Vatican, Luxembourg, Hungary, Brunei Darussalam, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Canada, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, New Zealand, Portugal, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta, Poland, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Chile, Romania, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Finland, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Estonia.
From January 15, 2019, a visa-free regime has been established for 30 days for Germany’s citizens.
These measures will serve to increasing the flow of foreign tourists, development of cultural, scientific, trade and investment relations between Uzbekistan and other countries, improvement of the country’s positive image among the international community.
Now, the total number of countries whose citizens are allowed visa-free entry to Uzbekistan is 64.
Mirziyoyev has announced plans to implement reforms to open Uzbekistan to the outer world after he came to power following the death of longtime President Islam Karimov in 2016.
