Analysis of Cooperation in the Tourism Sector between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan: a Study of Cross-border Value Chains

The 
Travel 
& 
Competitiveness 
Report 
2019, 
viewed 
on 
December 
31, 
2019,
http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TTCR_2019.pdf 
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Kun.uz 2019 Uzbekistan May Be Included in Global Competitiveness Index from 2021, viewed on December 31, 
2019, https://kun.uz/en/news/2019/10/18/uzbekistan-may-be-included-in-global-competitiveness-index-from-2021
 
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In addition to cultural sites, Uzbekistan has a natural heritage site - the Western Tien-Shan Mountains, and intangible 
cultural heritage elements: Boysun cultural and natural space, “Lazgi” Khorazm dance, Margilan ikat making, Navruz 
festivities, Palov dish culture, Shoshmaqom traditional singing art and others 
UNESCO 2019 Uzbekistan: Elements on the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage, viewed on December 20, 2019, 
https://ich.unesco.org/en/state/uzbekistan-UZ?info=elements-on-the-lists; 
(UNESCO 2019 Uzbekistan: Properties Inscribed on the World Heritage List, viewed on March 30, 2019, 
https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/uz 

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gastronomy; art products
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; natural
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, pilgrimage and heritage
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sites; thematic festivals, warm 
weather with around 300 days of sunshine per year (allowing tourism around the year) and other 
authentic experiences to tourists. Since 2016, the Government of Uzbekistan pursued active 
tourism promotion reform to develop the sector and increase its share in the national economy
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. 
During 2016 - 2019, Uzbekistan has introduced e-visa and visa free regimes for over 72 
countries, and the list will be extended to 94 countries in 2020 (detailed list is available in Annex 
7). Uzbekistan thus became a country with the second most liberal visa regime in the Community 
of Independent State (CIS)
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, after Georgia. Other important steps were promotion of 
destinations, diversification of tourist products and seasons, international cooperation 
agreements, introducing free exchange of foreign currency, revision of tourism legislation and 
planned transport connectivity reform
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.