A proposal has been put forward in Uzbekistan to restore abandoned airfields and runways for use in the tourism sector. This initiative is enshrined in a draft presidential decree concerning the development of active tourism.
A proposal has been put forward in Uzbekistan to restore abandoned airfields and runways for use in the tourism sector. This initiative is enshrined in a draft presidential decree concerning the development of active tourism.
The Tourism Committee reported that after landscaping, these facilities will be leased to private entrepreneurs. It is planned that they can be used for light aviation, paragliding, and parachuting. Additionally, there is a provision for renting buildings to create training centers designed to prepare qualified personnel.
Significant attention is being paid to promoting small aviation. The Civil Aviation Agency proposes appointing a state regulator with expanded powers in the field of aircraft certification and registration.
To support entrepreneurs engaged in active tourism, it is proposed to exempt them from customs duties when importing approximately 40 different types of equipment. This equipment includes quad bikes, buggies, jet skis, auto-campers, parachutes, paragliders, and mountain hiking gear.
The stipulated benefits will take effect on January 1, 2027, and last until January 1, 2030. Starting in 2027, projects related to developing infrastructure at active tourism sites will be able to be included in state programs.
Previously, the development of a draft presidential decree aimed at stimulating active forms of tourism was announced. As part of this work, a list of 162 natural sites with high development potential was compiled.
A new set of measures is being developed in Uzbekistan aimed at developing the social protection system. These proposals concern expanding access to education for children with disabilities, changing the approach to supporting the homeless and victims of human trafficking, and transitioning transport benefits to a digital format.
These initiatives were announced at a meeting attended by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. It was noted that the social assistance system has significantly strengthened over the past years: the number of types of social services has increased from 23 to 140, and the annual coverage has reached 4.6 million cases, with almost half of these cases resolved at the mahalla level.
Special attention is paid to children with special educational needs. Currently, there are over 168 thousand children with disabilities registered in the country, but about 34.6 thousand of them do not participate in the educational process. To eliminate this problem, targeted work with families is planned, where each child's needs will be assessed at an early stage to select optimal learning conditions. A pilot project is scheduled for October 2026 in the Khorezm and Navoi regions.
Starting from the new academic year, individual study plans will be introduced in specialized schools. Assistants and helpers will be provided to visually impaired teachers and primary school students. Private educational institutions that open correctional classes near children's residences can apply for state subsidies, and the most successful projects will be awarded grants annually.
Furthermore, starting in 2027, a voucher system is planned to provide children with necessary assistive technologies, such as Braille displays and text-to-speech devices. Additional conditions will be provided for people with disabilities during exams, including extended time, assistance from assistants, and sign language interpreters.
The reform will also affect people without a permanent place of residence. Existing rehabilitation institutions will be converted into temporary accommodation and social reintegration centers. In these centers, people will receive support in restoring documents, receiving medical treatment, acquiring a new profession, and finding employment. Mechanisms for employment support will also be developed, including providing training vouchers and establishing job quotas.
Regarding victims of human trafficking, it is proposed to start the functioning of a system for assessing their situation through 'Inson' centers in September 2026, after which they will be referred to the relevant services. The network of rehabilitation centers for women and children will be expanded by increasing the number of available places. Concurrently, the introduction of separate criminal liability for child trafficking and restricting the activities of individuals involved in such crimes is being considered.
Another significant change concerns simplifying the process of obtaining discounted travel. Currently, more than 48 thousand people use this benefit, and in the future, the entire system will become fully digital. Paper travel tickets will be abolished, and the right to the benefit will be verified using an ID card or biometric passport. Starting in 2027, purchasing discounted tickets will be possible online through the Baraka mobile application.
The President approved all the proposed measures and instructed a thorough elaboration of their implementation process. Relevant agencies must now prepare all necessary documentation and ensure the gradual introduction of new social support mechanisms across the country. It should be noted that in 2025, 4.9 million applications were submitted to Uzbekistan's social protection system, more than double the figure from the previous year, when applications totaled 1.9 million.
The tourist complex 'Arda Khiva' and the airline FlyArystan are jointly working to develop tourism between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. This joint initiative was presented in Almaty during the opening of the international 'Games of the Future'.
During a meeting with tour operators from both countries, a new international route connecting Almaty and Urgench was announced. Representatives of 'Arda Khiva' showcased the tourism potential of the Khorezm region and special offers for FlyArystan passengers, while the airline presented details of the new destination. The travel packages offered by the parties include both accommodation and excursion programs.
Urgench is only 30 kilometers from the ancient city of Khiva, whose historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The parties also agreed to organize an introductory info tour for leading bloggers and Kazakh tour operators. This tour is scheduled for August 7 to 10 and will coincide with the 'Golden Pumpkin' festival. The info tour program includes visiting the historic center of Khiva—Ichon-Kala, familiarizing oneself with the infrastructure of 'Arda Khiva', participating in festival events, and holding a business B2B meeting with representatives of the regional tourism industry, which will allow participants to assess the potential of Khorezm and develop attractive offers for Kazakh tourists.
Previously, 'Arda Khiva' and FlyArystan signed a memorandum of cooperation, and the recent meeting in Almaty was the next stage of its implementation. Regular direct flights on the Almaty – Urgench – Almaty route will begin on September 3 and will operate twice a week—on Thursdays and Sundays. Tickets for these flights are already available on the official website of FlyArystan, in its mobile application, and through other sales channels.
The 'Arda Khiva' complex was built by order of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This multifunctional tourist cluster covers an area of 25 hectares near Lake Govukul. It is designed to host various events—sports, cultural-historical, and entertainment—with the support of the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Khorezm region hokimiyat. The complex's infrastructure is extensive and includes six hotels for 1000 people, an open water park, an indoor pool, an amphitheater for 3000 spectators, as well as 11 handicraft houses, the 'Ancient Urgench' museum, an art gallery, and a jewelry center. Additionally, there is a network of 2 km gondola lines, over ten cafes and restaurants, an oriental bazaar, the region's largest children's center, sports facilities, and a spa complex. The management of this complex is carried out by the international consortium HotelPro (Uzbekistan) / Kronwell (Russia).
FlyArystan is a Kazakh airline that is a 100% subsidiary of the Air Astana group of companies. The company began operations in May 2019. The airline serves a wide network of destinations and uses a modern fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, with bases in Almaty, Astana, and Aktau. FlyArystan's route network covers domestic, international, and charter flights.
The Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Abdulaziz Akkulov, held a meeting with the Ambassador of the Institute of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Uzbekistan, Mohammad Ali Eskandari.
During this meeting, the parties discussed in detail the further strengthening of partnership between the two states in the field of tourism, aimed at effectively utilizing existing potential and increasing mutual tourist flows.
In particular, the participants exchanged views on promoting the tourism opportunities of both countries, increasing the number of tourist trips, expanding direct air connections, as well as developing joint work in the field of medical tourism.
The Iranian side put forward a proposal to simplify visa procedures for Iranian citizens. Furthermore, an agreement was reached on more active promotion of Uzbekistan's tourism potential in the Iranian market and continuous increase in mutual tourist exchanges, based on the rich historical and cultural heritage of the two countries.
