That was noted by the Ambassador of the tourism brand of Uzbekistan in the UK Sophie Ibbotson in an article published in October, this year on the pages of the news and analytical "Euroasian investor".
The author makes a detailed analysis of tourism reforms in Uzbekistan, visa cancellation, investment in hotel and transport infrastructure, which allowed our country to become a rapidly developing tourist destination. Optimistic forecasts for the growth of tourists gave good figures – 7.5 million tourists in 2020 and 11.8 million by 2025.
2020 was the worst year in the history of world tourism. UNWTO recorded a 98 percent drop in international tourist numbers in May, and fears job losses in tourism may reach 120 million. The government of Uzbekistan has taken unprecedented measures to restore the domestic tourism industry during the pandemic. This includes assistance from the Anti-crisis Fund in the amount of 20 billion soums (1.95 million US dollars), exemption from property and land taxes, reduction of income tax, suspension of tourist collection, promotion of investment in hotels, grants for innovative business ideas and targeted interest-free loans. These measures, of course, do not compensate for the loss of all revenues, but they provide an opportunity to take some respite and plan actions for a sustainable future of tourism after Covid-19 - noted Sophie Ibbotson.
The author gives some recommendations for stabilizing the situation in the tourist market of Uzbekistan. The main problem, says Sophie Ibbotson, is that Uzbekistan has always adhered to the model of mass tourism, giving priority to the growth of the number of tourists. The disadvantages of mass tourism are that they lead to excessive tourism, destruction and pollution of the environment and ancient historical sites, and puts an impressive pressure on the local population.
According to the author, Uzbekistan should shift its focus from mass tourism to higher-quality niche types of tourism. These types of tourism include low-cost and small-scale activities and promote the development of local communities and the conservation of natural resources. The goal of the shift to quality tourism is to increase tourism revenue without increasing the number of tourists, which is possible because the per capita spending of these tourists is much higher than that of mass-market tourists. In an economic crisis, budget tourism is the most affected, and those who can still afford to travel will be willing to pay more for a better product and the opportunity for social distance.
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