President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree “On additional organizational measures to create favorable conditions for development of the tourism potential of the Republic of Uzbekistan”.

According to the document, legal entities, the main activity of which is organization of the theme park services, received benefits in the form of exemption from payment of corporate income tax, land tax and property tax, as well as a single tax payment for a period of 3 years from the date of commissioning thematic parks.

Till 1 January 2022, theme parks, hotels and other accommodation facilities are exempted from customs payments for imported equipment, machinery, raw materials, components and spare parts, construction materials and other materials not produced in the Republic of Uzbekistan for construction, reconstruction and equipping of theme parks, hotels and other accommodation facilities.

Till 1 January 2022, privileges were granted to business entities in the sphere of tourism in the form of exemption from payment of customs payments for vehicles of the tourist class imported to the territory of the republic, as well as equipment, mechanisms and spare parts for construction, reconstruction and equipping of cableways, lifts, funiculars and other similar objects and structures, as well as balloons, ATVs and motor boats.

The decree allows, as an except, tourist operators, registered in the Republic of Karakalpakstan to pay customs fees at a rate of 25 percent of the current rate for imported vehicles of increased cross-country capacity with motor of 2.4 liters to organize extreme tours. The vehicles will have special plate numbers and can be used only in Karakalpakstan.

In order to accelerate the introduction of information technologies in the field of tourism and the development of e-commerce, the Decree provides several preferences.

Business entities will receive tax preferences of they sell tourist products via online system or offer online booking via website and portals, as well as introduce online payment services.

The document envisages creation of public free Wi-Fi zones with identification of the users. The companies, which create Wi-Fi zones, will receive tax preferences. Freed funds will be directed to purchase equipment and Internet-traffic.