Section 17. Economics and management

Name of 
country
The share of 
tourism in GDP
Number of atten-
dance in 2015 
Responsible state agency
France
7%
84,5
Tourism Development Agency
USA
3%
80
absent
Malaysia
14,9%
25,7
Ministry of tourism
Turkey
4,5%
36,24
Ministry of tourism
India
6%
8
Ministry of tourism
Uzbekistan
1,8%
2
The State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the development of 
tourism
Despite some growth in the country in this area, which start-
ed from a low level, this potential has to be translated into reality 
yet; therewith, many problems constrain significant growth in the 
tourism sector that prevent the country from achieving great inter-
national success in this sphere, such as lack of financial resources; 
outdated regulatory framework; not well-developed infrastructure; 
monotonous tour product and low diversification; barriers to ob-
taining entry visa by foreigners etc.
Accordingly, in order to create favorable economic and legal 
conditions for intensive development of tourism as a strategic sector 
of the economy of Uzbekistan, the most complete and effective use 
of the vast tourism potential of regions, radical improvement of the 
tourism industry management, creation of national tourist product 
and its promotion to world markets, formation of positive image 
of Uzbekistan in the sphere of tourism, as well as for sustainable 
and balanced development of tourism activity, creating necessary 
material and technical base, security of life and health of foreign 
tourists and citizens of the Republic, development of equitable eco-
nomic cooperation with foreign countries Decrees of the President 
of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 02.12.2016 №DP-4861 and 

---

Section 17. Economics and management
266
from 22.12.2016 №DP-4895 gave new impulse to development of 
tourism in the country.
In particular, the Decrees of the President adopted the follow-
ing changes and innovation in the tourism sector of Uzbekistan:
a) targets and priorities of State policy in sphere of tourism in 
the medium term perspective are identified;
b) the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the 
development of tourism was established on the basis of abrogated 
national company “Uzbektourism”;
c) the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan is entrusted 
with development of the concept of tourist industry development in 
the Republic of Uzbekistan for the medium term perspective as well 
as programme of specific measures to implement the concept in 
2017–2021;
d) changes are made in licensing procedure for the right of 
realization of tourist activities and certification of tourist services;
e) Since January 1, 2021, visa regime will be cancelled for citi-
zens of 15 leading countries in Europe, America and Asia, arriving 
to the Republic of Uzbekistan with tourist purposes for the period 
not exceeding 30 days, as well as for the citizens of 12 countries, 
55 years of age, and entering the Republic of Uzbekistan in tourist 
purposes for the period not exceeding 30 days, etc.
Experience of tourism management in developed countries 
(the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Austria, and Spain) 
shows high efficiency of tourism industry development with clear 
definition of the functions of Government in this area.
Study of international experience shows that, in countries 
with a developed tourism industry, such as France, Turkey, Greece, 
Egypt, Japan, functions of public administration, tourism industry 
and control functions of business are distinguished clearly in public 
administration of tourism. That is why creation of the public body-
the State Committee of Republic of Uzbekistan on the development 
of tourism is the most important step towards further development 
of tourism.
At the next stage of development, activities, related to creation of 
new opportunities, as well as cardinal revision of existing systems in 
the tourism industry, in our view, should include the following:
1. Tourist rating is associated directly with attracting invest-
ments in this industry. The development of tourism in the country 
could increase investments, flow of currency through increase in 
exports of services, create jobs, improve the level of service. In 
our view, the State Committee for tourism development at this stage 
of development should pay attention to the development and moni-
toring of the implementation of national and regional programmes 
for integrated tourism development, accelerated development of 
the wide range of tourism, attracting foreign investments, and also 
loans and grants from international financial institutions and other 
organizations in the development of tourist infrastructure.
When designing the Programme of concrete measures for im-
plementation of the concept of tourism development in Uzbeki-
stan in 2017–2021 by the Government, it is advisable to foresee 
extensive use of the newly established extra-budgetary fund to sup-
port the tourism sphere under the Committee.
2. Active study of underutilized opportunities but with a solid 
foundation for the wide dissemination in Uzbekistan of the types 
of tourism such as medical tourism, rural tourism, pilgrimage and 
religious tourism, eco-tourism, gastronomy and wine tourism, tour-
ism for pensioners should be the main goal of the ongoing scientific 
studies on the development of tourism in Uzbekistan.
3. Funds, allocated by extra-budgetary fund, and attract-
ed investments should be used for all sorts of tourist publicity 
campaigns, for maintenance of tourism information centers, im-
provement of infrastructures of historical heritages and ski resorts, 
investing in airlines or corporate development of tourism in Uz-
bekistan.
4. Another important area, requiring special attention in the de-
velopment of tourism in Uzbekistan, is the ICT industry. Today we 
cannot imagine any sphere of activity without modern technology. 
In terms of informatization and computerization, development of 
tourist activities in Uzbekistan requires new approach to informa-
tion processing.
In order to ensure efficient operation of any modern tourist 
enterprises it is necessary to implement modern ICT and software. 
Process of ICT development and modernization in tourism im-
proves quality of tourism services, which leads to increase in the 
number of foreign tourists and promotes great awareness of the tour-
ist potential of the country.
Today more than dozen programs of travel agencies automation 
are presented at the tourist market of Uzbekistan (“1 C–Canvas: 
travel agency”, “InTourOffice”, “Master-tour”, “SAMO-tour”, etc.). 
Speaking about ICT use in tourism, we cannot fail mentioning reser-
vation systems in hotels and transport. Almost all Uzbekistan Hotels 
use them. However, there is no unified system in the Republic (ICT 
as a factor in the development of tourism in Uzbekistan, magazine 
“infoCOM.UZ”, November, 19, 2016) [5].
Therefore, it should be noted that, thanks to the skilful at-
traction of standard and software, many processes in tourism have 
already been modified; information technology and electronic 
data interchange have been implemented in them. A survey of tour-
ists, arrived in Uzbekistan, showed that many of them learned about 
the country and decided to visit it, to book hotel reservations based 
on data from the Internet.
Currently, a great deal has been accomplished, but much more 
remains to be done to bring the tourism industry on a more promis-
ing development level based on strong expertise and knowledge on 
the effective use of information and communication technologies. 
In this context, establishment of Republican tourist portal, bringing 
together all tourist organizations into a single virtual information 
space based on the State Committee for tourism development, is 
actual.
5. Tourism infrastructure in Uzbekistan also requires compre-
hensive improvement and raising up to international standards. 
Tourist package is formed from the basic, additional and related 
travel services. In this case, experience of forming tourist packages 
shows certain shortcomings.
In this connection, it is necessary to focus on the international 
component of tourism, to develop a set of measures for compliance 
of tourist infrastructure with all international requirements in the 
field of tourism. It is advisable to take an inventory of objects of 
tourism infrastructure and develop a division into categories based 
on level of service in line with international standards.
6. Development of inner tourism. Stimulation of domestic 
tourism, activity of tour operators, working in the field of domestic 
tourism, as well as development and implementation of tourist and 
excursion activities in the education system.
7. When working out strategy of tourism development, it is nec-
essary to take into account the most important features of Uzbeki-
stan with special emphasis on the development of a large number of 
related tourism services. Within tourism diversification it is neces-
sary to carry out work, aimed at the development of such services 
as sports (sailing, golf, mountaineering etc.), wellness (thermal 
water, surgery, physiotherapy, etc.), revival of national values and 

---

Development perspectives of ecological management in Uzbekistan
267
national applied art, etc. To use positive experience of developed 
tourism countries (Turkey, Algeria, Egypt) in composing and wide 
dissemination of mythical stories and interesting stories, related to 
places of pilgrimage