The meeting was aimed at discussing issues of further developing tourism sector in Uzbekistan, outline the most important problems of tourism sector and consider proposals of their solution.

The heads of tourism companies, who participated at the event, made several proposals on developing tourism sector. In particular, the sides discussed issues of simplifying visa procedures for foreign tourists, who want to visit Uzbekistan. The tourism business proposed to simplify visa procedures to citizens of some states, which are potential tourism market. It was proposed to simplify process of receiving group visas to Uzbekistan and organize 3-4 hour excursions to passengers of transit flights of Tashkent international airport.

The tourism companies also proposed to approve single rate for visas of Uzbekistan and single list of necessary documents to obtain entry visas to Uzbekistan at the diplomatic missions of Uzbekistan abroad.

In his turn, chairperson of Uzbektourism Farrukh Rizaev said that initiatives of the tourism companies will be considered and implemented with interested ministries and departments.

At the meeting, the sides also considered changes to programme Mega-info-tur and implementation of Hosted Buyers within Tashkent international tourism fair “Tourism at Great Silk Road”. It was noted that the tourism sector proposed not to change dates of the programme Mega-info-tur as it provides preferences to air tickets and accommodation at hotels as the date of the Tashkent international tourism fair “Tourism at Great Silk Road” falls to tourism season. During the season, there will be huge load of hotels and airplanes of Uzbekistan Havo Yollari and it will be difficult to provide air tickets and accommodations to participants of the programme Mega-info-tur on preferential terms.

The roundtable also discussed participation of Uzbek companies at international tourism fairs and the Uzbek tourism companies pointed to untimely invitations, obtaining visas, badges in connection with late payment for stand areas.

The members of APTA called to create Association of Guides and Association of Hoteliers in the structure of the APTA. Besides, the APTA proposed to include mandatory membership of tourism organizations to the licensing agreements.

It was underlined that such meetings will help to develop tourism sector and strengthen public-private partners, as well as sustainable development of tourism sector.