On 5 January, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that tourists from 45 countries will be able to visit Uzbekistan visa free, effective from 1 February, 2019. This includes visitors from the UK.
This is the latest in a series of reforms designed to stimulate the Central Asian country’s tourism development, as Mirziyoyev identified tourism and foreign investment as the two priorities for his term when he came to power in December 2016.
Initiatives including the introduction of e-visas in June 2018 have already resulted in an increase in foreign tourist numbers from 2.6 million in 2017 to 5.3 million in 2018. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs anticipates significant further growth in 2019.
National carrier Uzbekistan Airways will take delivery of two new Airbus A320neos and three new Boeing 787 Dreamliners in spring 2019, increasing its capacity on long haul international routes and enabling it to add new destinations. The airline already provides direct flights between London Heathrow and Tashkent, and expects to add a second UK airport to its network this summer.
National carrier Uzbekistan Airways will take delivery of two new Airbus A320neos and three new Boeing 787 Dreamliners in spring 2019, increasing its capacity on long haul international routes and enabling it to add new destinations. The airline already provides direct flights between London Heathrow and Tashkent, and expects to add a second UK airport to its network this summer.
| Andorra | Canada | Iceland | Mongolia | San Marino |
| Argentina | Chile | Ireland | Montenegro | Serbia |
| Australia | Croatia | Italy | Netherlands | Slovenia |
| Austria | Czech Republic | Latvia | New Zealand | Slovakia |
| Belgium | Denmark | Liechtenstein | Norway | Spain |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | Estonia | Lithuania | Poland | Sweden |
| Brazil | Finland | Luxembourg | Portugal | Switzerland |
| Brunei Darussalam | Greece | Malta | Republic of Cyprus | United Kingdom |
| Bulgaria | Hungary | Monaco | Romania | Vatican |
Nationals of France, Israel, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Turkey were granted visa free access in 2018. Germans will have visa free access from 15 January, 2019.
President Mirziyoyev’s 5 January decrees also stated that:
- The existing e-visa scheme will be extended to cover the nationals of 76 countries, and will allow for double and multiple entries;
- New visa categories will be created for pilgrims, students, academics, and for medical tourism, and will be available within one month;
- Hotels must offer accommodation “regardless of the place of residence, citizenship, kinship and marital relations of individuals, as well as other factors that restrict the right to privacy.” This removes restrictions on unmarried couples;
- A list of prohibited sites (i.e. those of security concern) will be published on or before 1 Feb, and clearly marked with signs. Tourists may photograph and film all unmarked sites without restriction.
