Tourism

Tourism is becoming an a   economically viable area of the national economy. The potential is huge, with 50 percent of the 20 functioning hotels and 14 tourist and camping centers meeting international standards. Hotels throughout the country can provide 8,600 rooms. This year (2000), it is predicted that 1 million tourist will partake in tourism within the country, including 650,000 foreign tourists. Income from foreign tourists alone should amount to US$ 2 billion, including US$ 150.5 million supplied by the national company - Uzbektourism. To create export potential, the government plans to create free economic tourist areas. Plans to improve the existing tourist services are underway. After researching the tourism trade, taking into account tourists' interests, tourist routes, new hotels, camping sites and activities are being planned and will be implemented in the near future. Tourist routes of Uzbekistan include the ancient Silk Road cities and visits to about 4,000 architectural monuments including those restored and protected by UNESCO.

Tourist agencies offer a variety of tours through the dry and desolate deserts, to the snowcapped mountains for skiing, into the fertile valleys for hunting or fishing and into the mountains   for gliding  and mountaineering. Exotic and historically interesting adventures such as Following Marco Polo, The Caravan of the Sun, Baktria is a Land of Gold, The Great Silk Road Caravan and others attract many tourists from around the world.
Uzbektourism has been entrusted with the task to develop an infrastructure for tourism based on the country's priorities, drawing from foreign experience and advice. In 1993, Uzbektourism joined the World Tourist Organization - The Great Silk Road International Project Coordinating Center was established as a result. A conference entitled Silk Road - World Tourist Organization was held in Tashkent under the auspices of the UN and UNESCO. During a visit to Registan Square, the Samarkand Declaration consisting of participants interested in the development of the Silk Road Tourist Route International Project were named and the project was adopted. As a logical continuation of the conference the Annual Silk Road Tourist Fair now takes place where up to 170 companies participate.
Uzbektourism and a number of foreign companies have launched a number of investment projects in the area of tourism. These mainly involve joint ventures in the hotel industry and the reconstruction of existing hotels and recreation areas.
In order to create an effective infrastructure Uzbekistan requires additional capital investment in the form of foreign companies choosing to put money into tourism projects. There are plans to reconstruct the Chor-Su Hotel in Tashkent, and the Samarkand Hotel in Samarkand. Auto Service Complexes will also be built on the road to Bukhara, Navoi and Samarkand.

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