Second new five-star hotel will open in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Tourism ventures of Samarqand region have discussed the prospects of boosting the sector in the new travel season.

The meeting with participation of O’zbekturizm National Company and representatives of the tourism industry has been organized in Samarqand. The gathered discussed the last-year results and issues on preparation for the current tourist season, as well as plans for the near future outlined.

The annual rate of the tourist number visiting the country depends, at a large extent, on the readiness of one of the leading tour operators of Uzbekistan for a new tourist season. In this regard, after revisiting the outcomes of the last year, the plans for 2011 have been announced, as well as the role of the region in implementation of the projected programs.

The presentation of the project on familiarization tours “mega-info-tours” in our country meant for foreign tour operators and journalists who specialize in tourism evoked rather huge interest in the tourist ventures of the country. This project, implemented at the Uzbek government’s behest, includes simplification of travel formalities, free entrance to major monuments and museums, accommodation in hotels in case of availability, airfare and free-of-charge travels on the tourist routes by trains for the “mega-info-tours” participants. The first such guests visit our country in the period from 15 to 30 March of this year.

A special role in this project is given, in particular, to the administration of Samarqand region, which along with administrations of Bukhoro and Khorazm regions planned familiarization tours for the participants. They include traditional treating and concert programs. The project aims to further promotion of the tourist potential of Uzbekistan in the international tourism market in order to increase flows of foreign tourists to the country.

Samarqand is one of the most active members of another tourist project - the construction of complex objects of the roadside tourism infrastructure along the Uzbek national highway. In accordance with the government’s projects, it is planned to build nine complex objects, seven of which should be completed this year. In Samarqand, in particular, complex objects of the roadside tourism infrastructure, designed for a short-term stop of tourists and travelers in order to create comfortable conditions for those people.

The reconstruction of one of the popular hotels – “Samarqand”, is to start this year. Soon, on the basis of this hotel the Samarqand residents and guests will see a new, five-star hotel that will go into operation by one of the leading Korean companies.

Today, large-scale works on beautification of the town are being carried out in Samarqand, as well as the extensive reconstruction of channel for rowing. Upon its completion, the canal will be a sporting base for the preparation of national teams in rowing, as well as the venue for international competitions. It will attract both fans of this type of sport and inquisitive tourists. The canal for rowing has the better chance to become one of the sightseeing places of not only Samarqand, but the whole Uzbekistan.

Moreover, new restaurants and hotels in national style are built in this ancient town that popular with foreign visitors. In particular, it is planned that by the end of this year five more private hotels are to start functioning.

Furthermore, the region is actively preparing for the international music festival Sharq Taronalari, festivals of melons, Samarqand flat cakes, national dishes and oriental sweets, which annually attract a large number of tourists willing to know the distinctive character of the Uzbek people.

About 130 tourism ventures are engaged in the tourist services in Samarqand. In the year of small business and private entrepreneurship, experts predict that the tourism industry will experience the increase in the number of the tourist enterprises.