TASHKENT (TCA) — The State Committee for Tourism Development of Uzbekistan on December 4 said that in the framework of the Program of priority measures for the development of tourism in 2018-2019, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had signed a decree introducing new visas allowing foreigners to stay in the country for 30 days, the official Jahon information agency reported.
In particular, the presidential decree has introduced a single tourist visa for individual foreign citizens granted for a period of 30 days.
According to the decree, the cost of a tourist visa for individuals has been cut from $60 to $40. Before the decree, tourist visas were given for one week or 15 days only.
The decree has also cut the number of people in tourist groups visiting Uzbekistan from 10 to five persons. Visa cost for a member of such tourist groups is $15 for 15 days and $25 for 30 days.
The decree will ensure: minimization of formalities and reduction of costs of potential tourists related to the registration of tourist visa; intensification of the inflow of foreign tourists, including by increasing the number of tourists in small groups to Uzbekistan; and extending their stay in the country due to the introduction of a single tourist visa for a period of one month, Jahon reports.
President Mirziyoyev’s move to allow foreigners to stay longer in Uzbekistan on one visa is one of a number of initiatives that appear aimed at opening up the tightly controlled Central Asian country.
