Uzbekistan sees serious decrease in number of tourists due to pandemic

BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 23 By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend: The number of tourists who visited Uzbekistan in the period from March through June 2020 for was 2,100, Trend reports with reference to the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan. During the period from January through March 2020, this figure was recorded at the level of two million people. Compared to the same period of 2019, this indicator has decreased by 60 percent. Due to the spread of COVID-19, since March 2020 Uzbekistan has stopped all air and rail traffic. At the same time, the number of Uzbek citizens who left the country in the period from April through June 2020 made up 3,500 people. Also in June 2020, Uzbekistan launched a three-stage restoration of tourism. In the first stage, from June 1, domestic tourism in regions with "green" and "yellow" quarantine levels was resumed. The second stage will restore regional tourism with neighboring countries and CIS countries. In particular, security, hygiene and social distancing measures along the route of tourist groups will be worked out, including the establishment of a joint rapid response team. In the third stage, Uzbekistan will gradually resume inbound tourism, with a list of non-CIS countries for citizens who are allowed to enter the country in the light of the pandemic situation. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini