Authorities in Uzbekistan will introduce a tourist visa program called “Uzbekistan is My Second Home,” thus permitting international visitors to stay in this territory legally for up to a year without restrictions.
In addition, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also unveiled a three-year plan for developing the region’s tourism industry, VisaGuide.World reports.
According to a Times of Central Asia report, in the western part of Khorezm, in the town of Khiva, authorities are planning to open new 24-hour cafes, restaurants, and grocery stores. Major Uzbek cities, taking into account Urgench just north of Khiva, are to receive about $2.4m in subsidies to lower the cost of airline tickets.
The report also mentions the fact that, at present, several parts of Khorezm lack hotels, with loans being offered at an 18 percent interest rate for a period of seven years for the construction of hotels and resorts in order to increase the number of available tourists.
Plans for “Uzbekistan Is My 2nd Home” Unfolded in 2020
Plans to introduce the new immigration visa were unfolded back in 2020 by authorities in this territory.
Back then, it was stressed that the new immigration visa would be developed in two months.
Uzbekistan – my second home” is a completely new type of immigration visa in our country and will be developed in two months. This will be a new type of visa support.
Authorities in Uzbekistan said that the main purpose of the visa is to attract wealthy internationals with good academic knowledge and rich life experience and skills to this territory.
The country’s authorities also emphasized that specialists would be eligible to live in Uzbekistan both on their own and with family members.
They can contribute to the development of our country with their knowledge.
Increase in Number of Tourists
The new visa aims to boost the country’s economy further by welcoming a larger number of tourists.
The figures from the Chairman of the Tourism Committee, Umid Shadiyev, revealed that in 2023, a total of 7 million foreign citizens visited Uzbekistan for tourism purposes, marking a 1.3 times increase compared to 2022.
In 2022, the country welcomed more than 5.2 million tourists from other countries, or nearly three times more compared to 2021 statistics.
According to the figures provided by Uzbekistan Travel, a total of 4,364.8 thousand tourists came from neighboring countries, or 283 percent more compared to 2021 statistics.