Chapter I. The potential of uzbekistan for tourism and its special peculiarities for tourists

Transportation
Uzbekistan is far from being well connected internationally or internally, making it difficult for tourists to travel to or within the country. Recognizing that most foreign tourists prefer taking airplanes, a 2018 presidential decree was published encouraging measures for “radical im­provement of the civil aviation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.” The government reorganized the state-run Uzbekistan Airways into two joint-stock companies — the airline Uzbekistan Airways and the airport operator Uzbekistan Airports. The maintenance, repair, and overhaul service provider Uzbekistan Airways Technics and 11 of the country’s airports, are also being individu­ally reformed into separate limited liability companies in order to clarify responsibilities and enhance efficiency⁷. Additionally, daily flight times were increased from 8.1 hours to 10.9 hours per aircraft due to the increase of flights and routes. Uzbekistan Airway has now opened air routes to 39 countries and 92 airports.
Uzbekistan, still relies on railway transport both domestically and internationally. The presidential decree of March 6, 2015 called for further creation of railway assets, including construction of a new railway line for Navoi-Kanimekh-Misken. In addition, Uzbek Railways is seeking cooper­ative opportunities to improve and optimize the Uzbek railway operator. The Asian Development Bank has provided two loans to rehabilitate and modernize railway infrastructure, and another to electrify the railways between Marakand and Karshi in south-eastern Uzbekistan. Experts and consultants from Deutsche Bahn, the largest railway operator and infrastructure owner in Europe, have agreed to help Uzbekistan Railways draft its development strategy. Besides railways, tourist buses and vans are well needed to improve the transportation network. The government has introduced 133 tourist buses and vans and more are needed. According to the “Concept of Development of Tourism Industry — 2025,” published during the 2018 Internation­al Tourism Forum in Uzbekistan, the Uzbek government will expand its intercity bus service for the following routes: Tashkent-Samarkand-Bukhara-Khiva-Nukus,Tashkent-Gulistan-Tasjkent-Samar­kand-Karshi-Termez, and Kokand-Fergana-Andijan-Namangan.
Accommodation
The number of accommodation facilities, including hotels and guesthouses, increased to 914 in 2018 from 142 in 2017, and the number of rooms increased from 1,700 in 2017 to more than 20,000 in 2018. More importantly, Uzbek President Shavkat Miziyoyev issued a decree on Janu­ary 5, regarding “additional measures for the accelerated tourism development in the Republic of Uzbekistan, and aimed at stimulating further development of entrepreneurial activities in the sphere of tourism infrastructure development, including hotels and sanitary facilities.” The decree covers a construction costs compensation program, royalty fee financing, the partial exemption of hotel land purchase and customs clearance fees, and many other incentives⁸. It also now le­gally allows unmarried couples to share a hotel room, something that had been previously prohibited allows unmarried couples to share a hotel room, something that had been previously pro­hibited and therefore a problem for travelers when booking rooms at Booking or Airbnb⁹.
As a result of these changes, hotel brands are looking to enter Uzbekistan’s market, including secondary cities. The German RIMC Hotels & Resorts Group plans to invest over $4 billion in the tourism industry of Uzbekistan, including to build hotels in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. There will also be direct investments in the construction of modern shopping, busi­ness, and cultural centers, as well as the modernization of road infrastructure and airports¹⁰. In addition to the Hyatt Regency Tashkent, Radisson Blu and Hilton are expected to open hotels in the capital by 2025.
Foreign investors will find the most opportunities in the hospitality sector. International hotel brands are currently found only in the capital city of Tashkent, but there is a great demand for hotels and global franchises in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva - the central cities of the ancient Silk Road and major tourism destinations. The government wants to attract foreign investment and management services to the airports as public-private partnerships with an exemption from customs duties and 50% reduction in income and property taxes for three years. Uzbekistan’s expansion plans for its fleet of short- and medium-haul aircraft should create business opportunities for manufacturers. 
For specific opportunities, businesses should contact organizations involved in Uzbekistan’s tourism industry, including the State Tourism Development Committee, Uzbekistan Airways, Uzbekistan Airports and Ministry of Transport.
Uzbek cuisine - perhaps most known national and developed aspect of the Uzbekistan culture and Uzbekistan people. Unlike its nomadic neighbors, the Uzbek people has had a strong civilization for many centuries. People cultivated wheat and bred horned livestock between deserts and mountains, in oasis and fertile valleys. Therefore, rich products have allowed the Uzbek people to develop certain traditions of hospitality which, in turn, have made their cuisine known to the whole world.
The most of popular items of Uzbek cuisine are following:
Plov, the Uzbek version of "palov" - is a very solemn dish. It can be considered as an everyday dish as well as a dish for solemn and great events like weddings, parties and holidays. Rice is the most important component of plov, along with certain spices, raisins, peas or quince which are added to give it extra flavor.
Bread is considered holy for the Uzbek people.
Soups are of special importance. Uzbek soup is rich with vegetables and seasonings and contains many carrots, turnips, onions and greens. Most popular is Uzbek Shurpa. Shurpa is a meat and vegetable soup.
Shashlyk, also known as kebabs, consists of skewered chunks of mutton barbecued over charcoal and served with sliced raw onions and non (round unleavened bread)
Samsa (meat pies) is a pastry pie stuffed with meat and onion or pumpkin, potato, cabbage, mushrooms or nuts baked in a tandyr. Tandyr is a traditional cylindrical clay oven, heated with coal. Skill is needed when placing the raw samsas or non onto the inside wall of the oven.
Lagman is a thick noodle soup with thinly sliced fried meat and vegetables.
Manty are large dumplings stuffed with finely chopped meat, seasoned with various spices and a large amount of onion, then steamed in a special pot.
Wine Tourism in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is not significantly relevant to the main wine-growing powers of the world, however, the country has a long history of winemaking and wine culture. Tashkentvino kombinati is one of the oldest companies in the industry, founded in 1867 on the outskirts of Tashkent, near the shore of the channel Salar. Tashkentvino produces a range of quality spirits. Wine Factory become popular not only in Russia but also abroad. These wines, like "Red Tashkent", "Oporto", "Sultan", "Cahors" won gold and silver medals at the Moscow Polytechnic Exhibition in 1872 and at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1878.
Religious Tourism in Uzbekistan
A large number of tourists have been visiting Uzbekistan because of their religious-based interest. The followers of tariqas know that dozens of historical sights of Islam such as Mausoleum of Sheikh Zaynudin Bobo, Sheihantaur and Mausoleum of Zangiata in Tashkent or Bahauddin Complex in Bukhara, Bayan-Quli Khan Mausoleum, Saif ed-Din Bokharzi Mausoleum and many other monuments related to Sufism are in Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan is a country with predominantly Islamic roots. More than 160 Muslim sacred relics are located in the country.
Dental Tourism in Uzbekistan
Lately many modern dental clinics were established in Uzbekistan. They provide patients with dentistry services. Prices here much cheaper in comparison with Western and Russian clinics.
Traditions
Traditions and customs of Uzbek people living on the crossroad of the Great Silk Road were taking shape within many centuries as a result of interaction of Zoroastrian rituals of the Sogdians and Bactrians and traditions of nomadic tribes, with certain impact of Islamic traditions and rites set by the Koran in later period.
Travelling in Uzbekistan tourists can both see the architectural gems of Uzbekistan and whenever possible take part in the celebration of the most cherished national and folk holiday of Uzbek people.
Each itinerary includes a visit to a national house where tourists can learn about lifestyle of local people, taste the national Uzbek cuisine and enjoy the folklore show.
Uzbek national cuisine is rather delicious. Rich traditions and ancient culture of Uzbeks’ cooking have a history of many centuries. A wide assortment of products is used and each dish reflects the lifestyle and culture of the Uzbek people. The delicious Uzbek national cuisine is unlikely to leave indifferent even the most pernickety gourmet.
Bazaars
The traditional idea of an oriental bazaar as a place of abundant merchandise, brightness of colours and lively bustle finds its embodiment in Uzbekistan.
At all seasons the fruit and vegetable stalls impress with an abundance and diversity of the produce. But in summer and autumn the oriental bazaar is particularly impressing.
The bazaar’s active life starts early in the morning and ends when it gets dark. The unique atmosphere of the oriental bazaar is created by inviting shouts of the salespeople, automobile honks, sounds of national music, smells of spices and roasted meat, fruit and vegetables of all colors…
Hotels
Where in the past there were caravanserais modern hotels appeared. First-class hotels with internationally famous names and excellent world-class service are available in the major cities of Uzbekistan: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Urgench. A number of B&Bs have sprung up over the past several years, each with a style and character of its own. Altogether there are about 1188 hotels in Uzbekistan with total capacity of 40000 rooms.
Trekking
The charm of Uzbekistan’s unrivalled nature can be experienced during the trekking tours in the Western Tien-Shan, the Celestial mountains. In search of extreme adventures there come to Chimgan valley numerous mountaineers, avid to surmount the peak of the Big Chimgan, which is 3309 meters high (10850 feet).
Horse-riding
Romantic appeal of horse riding attracts people of any age and temperament. Horseback ride tours are generally arranged in summertime, but Uzbekistan’s unique climatic conditions make horse riding possible all the year round. One of the most popular alluring horseback riding travels are through Ugham-Chatkal National Wild Park well-known for its rich flora and fauna.In some eighty kilometers off Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, at the foot of snow-covered spurs of the Western Tien Shan Mountains there exists"Chimghan Oromghohi" resort complex designed for horse ride enthusiasts. In the stables of the complex there are horses of local breeds, such as kurama and karabair, as well as akhal-teke breed and sturdy half-bred horses. From here the horseback tours head up through the wilderness areas of the National Park.
Impressions of your journey along the mountains where fresh, clear air is filled with the superfine aroma of the numerous herbs and flowers, the squeak of a saddle, rhythmical clatter of hoofs and romantic evening meal round campfire under bottomless mountain sky with myriads of stars, will be long kept in your memory.
Camel safari
The ambience of the legendary Silk Road of our distant past can be experienced during camel safari through the Kyzyl-Kum Desert. Sand-dunes, merciless sun, sparse islands of saxaul, camel’s-thorn (alhagi) and sand, sand, sand… In early spring, thanks to the life-giving rains, the desert is covered with purple poppies and an emerald carpet of grass – sadly, these colours fade quickly. At the camel farm tourists change their comfortable cars to camels- the only suitable form of transport in the desert and start their exotic journey. Unforgettable impressions of riding on camelback; watching the beautiful sunset, its colours bleeding into the horison’s shimmering sands; overnight in yurtas (Kazakh collapsible tents); exotic national dishes and ceremonies — this is what makes this tour popular with tourists.
Mountains of the Western Tien-Shan offer everything a snow enthusiast could ask for. Comparatively mild climate, almost windless weather, availability of three hundred sunny days a year, big choice of skiable terrain with tracks for cross-country skiing, slalom and downhill runs, create good conditions for winter recreation.
Over the last few years "Chimgan-Charvak-Beldersay" resort area has become a popular location for enthusiasts of heli-ski and free-ride, the youngest but fast developing types of extreme sports and recreation. Thus on the beautiful mountain slopes of Chimghan tract, located at the height of 1600 – 2400 meters above sea level, the blanket of snow lies from October till May and the local skiing routes meet the requirements of the International Mountain Skiing standards.
For the enthusiasts of heli-skiing many runs start from the heights up to 4000 m above sea level and finish in the valley. You can make up to 6 runs per day making the first tracks in virgin powder.
Rafting
"Asian Switzerland" as Uzbekistan is sometimes called, is especially attractive for those who fancy extreme traveling, who become ecstatic about rafting down the rapid local rivers.
Rafting along the rapid Chatkal River is the favorite activity of extreme travelers. They are interested in many-day rafting along the route rated as the route of the fifth category of complexity, as well as in diverse landscapes and natural obstacles. Not less than fifty serious obstacles await the travelers on the river. Among the hardest ones are waterfalls, cascades of rapids, stony shallow areas with rapid current, whirlpools, rocky gorges and sharp stone cogs sticking out of waves.
Golfing
Tashkent Lake Side Golf Club is a wonderfully organized golf club with first-rate golf fields. 108 hectares of land with 18 holes on evergreen lawns, with gently sloping hills and branchy crowns of trees, lakes and waterfalls that serve as natural barriers for the game, all this pertains to Tashkent Lake Side Golf Club. It also possesses a large recreational area with training lawns, tennis courts, swimming pool and sauna.
For all the flavours of its storied past, cultural mosaics and unique natural beauty, warmth, hospitality and enthusiasm of the people, Uzbekistan is the country to visit and marvel.