Uzbekistan, 8th December: Uzbekistan tourist visas to be scrapped for 27 nations from April next year.
Uzbekistan has made this announcement in a latest move.
Uzbekistan tourist visas to be scrapped for 27 nations from April—Uzbekistan tourist visas to be scrapped for 27 nations from April next year. This happens to be the boldest step by the nation to the world. .
“Uzbekistan has decided to scrap tourist visas for 27 nations from April 2017. “
Uzbekistan President-elect Shavkat Mirziyoyev has recently signed a decree. This will enable visa-free travel to Uzbekistan for citizens of 27 nations for a period of up to one month.
New rules shall become effective from 1st April, 2017.
Which nations shall be governed by new rules?—Well, following nations shall benefit from new eased Uzbekistan visa-free travel norms.
- Canada
- Germany
- Spain
- Italy
- The Netherlands
- UK
- South Korea
- Japan
These are the nations among 27 to benefit from new simplified Uzbekistan visa rules. Citizens of 27 nations shall be allowed to travel visa-free for Uzbekistan from April 2017. This includes nationals from the US, France and Israel if they are aged 55 or more.
Chinese tourists traveling in a group will also get qualified for the new Uzbekistan visa-free travel rules.
Uzbekistan plans e-visa system in 2018—Uzbekistan also plans to introduce e-visa system from the year 2018. All these rules are aimed to make Uzbekistan’s tourist industry globally competitive. For long, the tourist industry of the nation had been stifled by the bureaucratic process related to getting a visa.
It may be notable that in the year 2013, roughly 2 million foreigners visited Uzbekistan. Out of these, nearly nine-tenths were nationals of former Soviet republics. Of the total foreigners coming to Uzbekistan in 2013, many were visiting their family and friends. Some had come for tourism. India, Turkey and Russia are among the main source nations for visitors to Uzbekistan.
What other steps are needed to attract foreigners to Uzbekistan?—Well, Uzbekistan shall have to eliminate other obstacles that restrict inflow of tourists.
- These obstacles include keeping registration slips from every town/city in which they stay for presentation to border officers on departure.
- Failure to keep these leads to tougher implications including fines.