Uzbekistan has approved a new procedure for licensing travel companies

22.08.2020 1587

This is stated in the new Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated July 10, 2020 № 433 "On measures to create favorable conditions for the restoration and development of the tourism industry in the Republic of Uzbekistan".

As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious damage to the tourism business around the world. And urgent measures are needed to restore domestic tourism. The current decree defines important tools aimed at reducing the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic by supporting tourism and directly related industries, as well as at intensive restoration of the tourism sector as the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the country improves.

One of these measures is a new procedure for licensing tourism businesses. According to the new procedure, business entities have the right to carry out activities in the field of tourism only after obtaining the appropriate license in accordance with the established procedure.

There’s no need to obtain a license for the right to carry out tourist activities-individual entrepreneurs who carry out excursion activities.

Licenses are issued only to tour operators and travel agencies.

The regulation specifies the main requirements and procedure for obtaining a license by business entities. One of the first is strict compliance with the new law on tourism from 18.07.2019.

The licensed legal entity must employ at least one specialist with a higher or secondary specialized education in the field of tourism.

Employees of the legal entity-guides, interpreters, guides, leading specialists must update their respective certificates of qualification every three years.

Tour operators are also required to develop a unified system to ensure the safety of tourists, guides, and the provision of tourist services and the conclusion of electronic commercial contracts in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Licensees must have an official website, at least in 2 languages, in which they specify the conditions for payment, booking, acquiring in the direction of domestic and outbound tourism routes.