The Tourism Committee has published a draft government resolution for public discussion, proposing that foreign tour operators be allowed to sell foreign tour packages to Uzbek citizens only through local licensed tour operators or through their own legal entity registered in the country and licensed.
According to the document, a foreign travel company can operate in the Uzbek market under one of two options: sign a contract with a local tour operator authorized for outbound tourism, or open its own legal entity in Uzbekistan and obtain a license for tour operator activities.
Travel agents would be banned from directly selling tour packages of foreign operators without the involvement of a local licensed tour operator. The restriction applies to sales through websites, social networks, mobile apps, online payment systems, and other channels.
If a travel agent violates this requirement, the sold tour package will be considered unregistered on the National Tourism Platform, and the company may face legal measures.
Responsibility for fulfilling contractual obligations to the tourist lies with the local licensed tour operator or the foreign company's legal entity registered in Uzbekistan.
The draft also stipulates that the local operator is responsible for registering the tour package on the National Tourism Platform, paying the guarantee fee, and issuing an electronic tour code to the tourist.
It is recalled that the project proposes the establishment of a 'Safe Tourism' fund. This fund will cover compensation for damages to travelers and the costs of their evacuation from abroad. Tour operators will be required to reserve at least $50,000 in the fund to obtain a license, and a guarantee fee will be paid for each sold tour package.
Every tourist purchasing a foreign tour package would be issued a unique electronic tour code. This code confirms that the trip is registered on the National Tourism Platform, the guarantee fee has been paid, and the tourist is included in the protection system for emergencies.
Source: www.gazeta.uz