Board of the national travel company Uzbektourism held a meeting Tashkent to discuss the development of the tourism industry. It was noted that tourism enterprises today efficient in their work on the development of domestic tourism infrastructure in the country.

Experts and representatives of travel companies have decided to intensify efforts to increase the volume of domestic tourism. They must establish a system of effective (year-round) service opportunities in the domestic tourism resorts, spa, therapeutic, sports and recreation facilities. In addition, it is planed to develop the organizational and technical preparations for the travel services and other accommodation facilities, receiving and serving the tourists in the region, for the 2012-2013 autumn-winter season.

It is also planned to establish a permanent monitoring of the implementation of regional programs of targeted measures for the development of tourism and increasing the export potential of tourism services for the period 2011-2012.

Particular emphasis will be placed on a conclusion of tripartite agreements between the vocational colleges, employers and college graduates on the passage of practices in their future jobs with providing further employment, in accordance with their vocation.

Experts voiced the data on the development of tourism in the country for the first half of 2012. Inbound tourist traffic in Uzbekistan increased by 4%. In general, the number of tourists over the same period last year grew by 12.8%, the number of domestic tourists by 20.7%, the volume of tourist services grew by 59.8%. Exports of tourism services reached $74 million. Growth rate against the same period in 2011 reached 31.8%. In the first half of this year Uzbekistan issued 66 licenses for tourism activities. In general, as of July 1, 2012, there were 851 license tourist organizations in Uzbekistan. Of these, 348 are hotels and other accommodation facilities.

To expand the inbound tourism, in the period from 15 to 30 March in the framework of the Mega-Info-Tours national tour operators organized study tours for representatives of foreign travel agencies and media.

The program involved 307 travel industry professionals and media representatives from 30 countries.

As part of these efforts, more than 20 new accommodation facilities have opened so far, about 30 accommodation facilities have been redesigned and modernized. Also, these programs include measures for the restoration of historical and architectural monuments, construction, reconstruction and modernization of the places of interest and tourist service facilities, and other activities aimed at improving the flow of foreign travelers and creating the necessary conditions for them.

As part of efforts taken to improve the quality of tourist services, the National Training and Consulting Center Uzbektourism is entrusted to improve the skills of personnel of travel businesses operating in the country. In particular, it is planned to conduct a series of hospitality and service seminars for the organizations involved in receiving and servicing tourists. (Source: Uzbekistan Today newspaper)