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The transfer of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Fergana region continues. Yesterday, during the visit, the head of state got acquainted with the activities of the "Center of Craftsmen" of the city of Margilan.

A Kun.uz correspondent covering events from Fergana organized an interview with Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the State Committee for Tourism Development Aziz Abdukhakimov. During the conversation, such topics as the activities of the Crafts Center, its place in increasing the tourism potential, the impact of the pandemic on tourism and the restoration of the sector were discussed.

Abdukhakimov spoke about the activities of the recently opened center. The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that this is not a simple store, but, first of all, a tourist facility.

“This is where our unique traditions are presented - the products of artisans. The main thing is that we have the opportunity to provide people with jobs and help generate income. In this way, we can show our culture to the whole world, promote our national craft. In cooperation with the Uzbekipaksanoat Association, we will create such handicraft centers throughout the republic, ”he said.

This center is not only a production area. Training courses, shopping arcades and even a museum are organized here.

“Local and foreign tourists will be able to come here and get information about the history and present day of silkworm breeding. The center introduces modern technologies. Modern payment systems will be installed for guests. It will be possible to pay via WeChat or other mobile applications. A VR tour will be organized, including 260 different museums, archaeological sites, art galleries. All travel platforms will host VR tours. A tourist who is going to come will have the opportunity to get acquainted with them online, ”says Abdukhakimov.

In the course of the interview, the Deputy Prime Minister spoke about the issue of exporting products produced in the "Center of Craftsmen" together with "Uzbekipaksanoat", and in general, about the place of the silk industry in increasing the tourist potential.

“We have to bring foreign guests here, advertise and 'promote' products. The question was raised of increasing the export of sericulture products several times. Issues of production, crafts, and tourism intersect with sericulture.

If we pool our resources, added value will increase and exports will appear, and the number of jobs will also increase. We need to organize more silk exchanges and silk production fairs in Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan is located in the heart of the Great Silk Road. This process is now being restored. Jobs, export, tourism, promotion of Uzbekistan abroad, increasing the income of the population - all these tasks are united here.

There are such types of fabrics as fine silk harir, velvet, khanatlas, adras, bekasam (a kind of silk fabric for outerwear), jandi. They all have great potential. We must think about including them on the UNESCO representative list. Specialists should approach their production from a scientific point of view and bring them to the level of art.

We shouldn't dwell on just one atlas, we need to pay attention to other types of fabrics as well. All this is the wealth of the Uzbek nation. Each ornament has its own meaning and must be studied scientifically.

The Chinese take a ready-made ornament of these fabrics and print it on a print. But we must popularize the fact that Uzbek artisans make fabrics by hand in an original way. If we can advertise that it is handmade, then its price will increase several times, ”said the Deputy Prime Minister.

According to Aziz Abdukhakimov, Uzbek people may soon enter the Guinness Book of Records in the field of carpet weaving. A record will be set for the most knots used in carpet weaving.

“Japan, Korea were able to raise their culture to a high level. We must do this too. This is exactly what can surprise the whole world. To weave one square centimeter of carpet, 1600 knots need to be made. This is a record result, it can be entered into the Guinness Book of Records. We are preparing for this, ”he said.

During the interview, they talked about such issues as the tourism sector in Uzbekistan, the serious impact of the pandemic and the recovery of the sphere. Abdukhakimov, in response to our questions, said that the government of Uzbekistan is gradually preparing to open international flights.

“We are now preparing for this. International flights will open soon. Japan and some European countries have already come to this. Turkey will open soon too. As you can see, the transportation of passengers by buses will begin on June 8. Other types of public transport will soon be launched.

In addition, in order to develop tourism and return it to its previous rates, each tourist who comes to Uzbekistan will be paid 15 US dollars. It turns out that if an average of 200 tourists arrive on one plane, we will pay their expenses for $ 3,000. We will reimburse 10 percent of expenses for hotels, and by the end of the year - 30 percent of transportation costs, that is, the state will issue a subsidy, ”he says.

As reported, in 2019, Uzbekistan was visited by 6 million 700 thousand tourists. This year, from January 1 to March 15, 1 million 200 thousand tourists visited Uzbekistan.

“Compared to the same period last year, there was an increase of 40 percent. In May 2019, Uzbekistan received 496 thousand foreign guests. And in May of this year, 400 people came. This means that tourism has come to a complete standstill during the pandemic. More than 260 thousand people in the sphere were left without work, without income. However, the state helped them, reimbursed three-month interest on loans from travel companies and hotels.

At the end of this year, we can return to the indicators in the field of tourism for 2016. Then Uzbekistan was visited by 1 million 300 people. The export figures were then about 400 million. And now we are returning to these figures. But this does not mean a general fall. First, we can revive domestic tourism. Secondly, there is great diversification under this pretext. Large projects are being implemented in Khanabad and Bostanlik. There are new proposals for Shakhimardan, Sokh.

In other countries, tourism also fell to zero during the pandemic. In the field of tourism, which accounts for 10 to 30 percent of the GDP of states, one of the largest markets in the world over the past 3-5 years, everything has become at the same level. During the restart period, which will allow us to establish work, we need to find our place. And for this we will have to properly organize global PR, ”he says.

During the interview, the sides also discussed aspects that most attract tourists to Uzbekistan. According to Aziz Abdukhakimov, tourists come to our country as they are interested in our history and cultural heritage.

“The ancient part of Bukhara, Ichan-Kala in Khiva were included in the UNESCO list.

We have developed a program "Guaranteed safe travel to Uzbekistan", according to which, the country is fully guaranteed safety during travel. No coronavirus will threaten. The "COVID-19 Tablet" system will be established in business entities.

In terms of crime, Uzbekistan is one of the five safest countries in the world. Now we must try to enter the list of the safest countries in terms of coronavirus. Firstly, if we enter good places in tourism, and secondly, if we enter a number of safe countries from a sanitary and hygienic point of view, then the sphere will develop. "

The Kun.uz correspondent asked that many Uzbeks cannot afford to travel due to the economic situation, and asked if the prices for domestic tourism should be reduced.

Aziz Abdukhakimov answered the question as follows: “For the development of domestic tourism, there are such structures as trade unions, the Youth Union, the Ministry of Support of the Mahalla and Family. We, in agreement with them, organize tourist weeks, months. We will negotiate with travel companies, hotels, they will make big discounts. Sanatoriums and camps have started working, they meet all the requirements, and people have begun to arrive. If the need arises, there are isolation wards, medical assistance. We must teach people to travel safely. People are tired of sitting at home. For the local population, we can cut prices for domestic tourism by half.

Discounts will be valid until the end of the year. By reimbursing employees for domestic tourism, employers can exclude this portion of their income from the tax base. An employee can also exclude travel costs from their tax base. Previously, we did not develop domestic tourism, because there were many foreign tourists. And now is the time for its revival.

Previously, tourism in Uzbekistan was only of a historical orientation, but now attention is paid to medical, gastronomic tourism, ecotourism.

When the head of state was on a visit to Andijan, he noted that the population should move and walk more. We are now working on stimulating this so that you can collect points, provide bonuses, and add it to a single database, depending on how far a person has traveled. Based on this, points will be accumulated, and then benefits will be provided in the provision of public services. A special application will be installed on the mobile phone to accumulate bonuses. This is good for health and savings: for a service worth 100 thousand soums, you can pay, for example, only 50-60 thousand. "

Source: kun.uz