Аннотация: (Uzbekistan"s international cooperation in the field of tourism)
There is no doubt that the tourist industry can hardly develop without involving international-level formalities. Bilateral agreements signed by the Republic of Uzbekistan with foreign countries constitute one of such formalities. Moreover, these agreements not only make up a regulatory and legal framework for entry and departure procedures, but also form the basis of activity carried out by tourist organizations, strengthen partner links and promote the national tourist product to the world marketplace.
China was one of the first states which offered Tashkent to build contacts in the tourist sector. On March 13, 1992, the two countries signed an international agreement on cooperation in culture, education, healthcare, tourism and sport. According to this document, "the sides agree to accelerate and encourage the development of cooperation and exchange of experience in fields such as culture, arts, education, public health, tourism and sport through corresponding organizations operating in both countries on the basis of the principles of equality and mutual benefit", as well as "to stimulate the development and solidification of linkages between sporting and tourist organizations".
In 1995, the Uzbek-Indonesian Intergovernmental Memorandum on cooperation in tourism came into effect. The document was designed to address the following objectives:
to augment the number of tourist trains running to both countries from other states through the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan and/or the Republic of Indonesia;
to stimulate tourist trips to different tourist destinations and sights of both countries;
to encourage visits by Uzbek and Indonesian citizens and permanent inhabitants to both countries;
to back progress in the development of tourist business in Uzbekistan and Indonesia.
Signed in 1994, the Uzbek-Greece intergovernmental agreement stipulated the achievement of the following purposes: "to facilitate an increase in tourist flows in both directions be developing close cooperation between firms and organizations, which specialize in the development of tourist business in Uzbekistan and Greece". In addition, the document planned to encourage, within the framework of national legislations and on the bilateral basis, the dissemination of tourist editions and advertising materials in Uzbekistan and Greece, including audio and video materials. This Agreement contains references to the additional Protocol to the June 4, 1954 New York Convention on the importation of information documents and materials needed for publication purposes, as well as to the corresponding legislation of the European Union. The latter provides fro exemption of such materials, including those intended for tourist exhibitions, and tourist films designed to promote tourism, from customs duties and import taxes.
Another document - the Agreement on unrestricted freedom to travel signed between the Governments of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Germany on April 11, 1995, deserves mentioning in this context. Under this document and in accordance with Article 26 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, one signatory should ensure that all employees of another signatory"s diplomatic missions enjoy unrestricted freedom to travel on its territory. At the same time, no advance permission or notification of such trips is required. The document, however, contains restrictions imposed on visits to certain organizations or military bases, as well as to other places, where unauthorized persons are not admitted for homeland security reasons.
It should be mentioned in this connection that the document stipulates for the issue of appropriate permits to stay on other signatory"s territory "for other citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Germany, including representatives of political organizations, specialists sent on an official trip to cultural institutions, persons working in the areas of science, culture or education or within the framework of technical cooperation, as well as representatives of public or trade union organizations, businessmen, experts, scholars and other scientific specialists, employees from organizations involved in provision of humanitarian aid, journalists and tourists, residing or traveling on the territory of another signatory".
Within the framework of an agreement on cooperation in the sphere of tourism signed between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Ukraine in 1995, it was stated that the countries intended "to favor the development and strengthening of business cooperation between organizations specializing in tourism, with a view to acquainting corresponding authorities and citizens from both countries with the experience both states amassed in the course of their socio-economic, scientific and cultural development, as well as with historical and architectural monuments , tourist and natural attractions, cultural and historic traditions of their nations". To this end, the sides decided to facilitate, in any possible way, the opening of tourist agencies" representative offices and information and service centers in Uzbekistan and Ukraine. As it was pointed out in the agreement, "prior to the establishment of information and service centers on the territory of one of the signatories, another signatory renders assistance in the reception and servicing of its tourists."
One also needs to emphasize a growing role of legal regulations in entrenching tourist relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the CIS member states. A memorandum on cooperation in the field of tourism signed between Uzbekistan and Georgia in 1995 was subsequently transformed into an agreement signed in 1997, which significantly raised the tourist business" status in the development of people"s diplomacy. As for the Uzbek-Pakistani Agreement on cooperation in the areas of culture, healthcare, science, technique, personnel training, sport and mass media, signed in Tashkent on June 27, 1992, it developed into a separate document on cooperation in the sphere of tourism that was signed on May 22, 1995.
The July 9, 1995 Agreement on simplification of visa registration procedures signed between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Turkey contained the following provisions:
to inform, within 3 working days, about the results of consideration of visa applications submitted by diplomatic, administrative and technical employees of their embassies and members of their families to diplomatic and consular missions of both states;
to inform, no later than 5 working days, about the results of consideration of visa applications submitted by deputy ministers, members of governmental delegations and commissions, members of chambers of trade and industry, entrepreneurs, employees of banks and organizations, members of sports competitions and participants in cultural, festival and concert programs;
to inform, no later than 7 working days, about the results of consideration of applications requesting entry visas for a term not exceeding 30 days, as well as transit visas for a term not exceeding 15 days;
to inform about the results of consideration of visa applications submitted by visitors arriving on the invitation of public organizations for a period exceeding 30 days - within 5 working days, and by visitors invited by private organizations fro a period exceeding 30 days - at the earliest possible date.
Visas to those arriving to both signatories to work or study, as well as visas valid for several occasions will be considered separately and issued only in case of expediency. Annual visas valid for several occasions will be issued to aircraft crews and drivers of trucks and buses, who work in organizations involved in international communication, at the earliest possible date.
The number of multilateral contacts in the sphere of tourism shows a healthy upward trend. In 2000, Uzbekistan, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan signed a joint document, which is vital to the expansion of cooperation in the development of sanatoria, health centers, resorts, tourist organizations and agencies, in a move to create the most auspicious conditions for the citizens of these states arriving to improve their health, to familiarize themselves with culture, nature, sights, historical monuments and national traditions of these neighboring countries". The Agreement also helps organizations and enterprises to set up joint ventures and to implement investment projects in the area of tourism, recreation and provision of facilities in sanatoria and health resorts.
Cooperation in this sphere envisages the exchange of citizens on the principles of equality and mutual advantage. The signatories to this Agreement will, therefore, realize measures designed to simplify customs procedures, to exchange the lists of tourist firms, sanatoria and health resorts functioning on their territories, to facilitate the exchange of experience gathered in the field of organization and running of rest and recreation facilities, cooperation between sanatoria, rest houses, health resorts, children"s health-improvement centers and tourist organizations. Particular attention is paid to the dissemination of information by publishing advertising materials, exchanging relevant data, periodicals, films and exhibitions, as well as by conducting a variety of symposia and seminars.
Efforts are made to establish cooperative links between departments. In the tear 2000, the Uzbektourism National Company and Italy"s Association of Tour Operators (Assoziazione Tour Operator Italiani - ASTOI) signed an agreement, where the sides confirmed the necessity to make for a mutual increase in the volume of tourist flows in both directions by encouraging cooperation between enterprises and organizations under all types of ownership, which specialize in tourism, and by creating appropriate conditions that are essential for developing this sector at a fast clip. The sides intend top to disseminate tourist information by different means, including the exchange of periodicals, specialist editions and films, as well as to organize conferences, symposia and seminars of every description, Beyond this, the signatories will study the opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation:
in the field of tourism - between enterprises and organizations involved in construction, outfitting and management of hotels and other tourist installations, since they are regarded as the key aspect in the development of tourism in both countries;
in the field of investments to the tourist sector - the sides will exchange experience and consult together on various issues, including privileges granted to investors under both countries" laws and great opportunities for investment that exist in Uzbekistan and Italy;
in the field of education and training of personnel for the tourist business.
In 2000, the Governments of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation signed an agreement regulating the issues of reciprocal visits by their citizens. In particular, Article 1 of this document stated that "citizens of one of the sides may enter, depart, transit, move and stay on the territory of another side without appropriate visas, only upon presentation of one of the documents designed to prove the identity and certify citizenship of their holders. Citizens of the signatories, who reside in third countries, may enter, depart, move, stay and transit through the signatories" territories without any visas". Article 5 of the Agreement regulates a range of issues, surrounding the stay on the territory of one of the signatories: "Citizens of one of the sides, when staying on the territory of another side, should observe its laws and rules, including those regulating the stay in this country." In cases where they infringe thee rules, they are subject to deportation to the country of their citizenship or permanent residence as required under the law. In addition, the Governments retain the right to introduce certain restrictions on visa-free entry, departure, stay, movement and transit of Russian citizens, on condition that diplomatic channels are informed 72 hours prior to their introduction, with a view to ensuring homeland security, public order and health of their citizens.
The April 24, 2001 Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, "On measures to intensify economic and trade cooperation with the Federal Republic of Germany" stipulated the signing of several documents, includi8ng those in the field of tourism. The Uzbektourism National Company planned to sign agreements, contracts and memoranda of intentions with the following organizations:
Germany"s Association of Tour Operators - on cooperation aimed at ensuring the exchange of tourists;
The Turingia Entrepreneurs" Union in Central Asia - on cooperation in the field of tourism, designed to ensure the exchange of tourists, as well as on the application of advanced experience to the development of tourist infrastructure;
Hanzer Excursion International GmbH - on the exchange of tourists;
IVS Bau-Konsal GmbH - on reconstruction of Bukhara Hotel (development of a joint action plan, preparation of a business-plan, determination of sources of funding etc.).
In 2002, the Republic of Uzbekistan and Iran signed the memorandum on simplification of visa registration procedures for drivers of motor vehicles. According to this document, diplomatic and consular missions of the two countries issue entry-departure visas valid for several occasions for a term not exceeding 3 months (with the right to stay on their territories within up to 20 days) to drivers involved in international road freightage. Such visas should be issued within 5 working days from the date of receipt of an appropriate application. To obtain a transit visa, the drivers should present all the documents stipulated in the national legislation of both countries. What"s more, the signatories undertake to issue transit visas to drivers of trucks transiting through their territories, within 3 working days. At the same time, the signatories may refuse an entry visa or limit the term of stay for citizens, whose presence on their territories is undesirable.
In the course of 2003, the Republic of Uzbekistan simplified a procedure for registering entry visas for a number of European states. This unilateral measure has boosted the inflow of tourists from countries, such as the UK, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Austria.
In 2003, within the framework of note exchange between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Romania, the two countries signed an intergovernmental agreement, which released the holders of diplomatic passports from registration of visas for entry and stay on their territories during a period not exceeding 90 days from the date of entry. In the event their stay exceeds the indicated term, appropriate visas should be obtained in advance. However, if they perform official duties as diplomatic personnel, they may enter and stay in both countries within the entire period of their work without any visas required. This rule also applies to their family members. The same norm is specified in the 1997 Uzbek-Slovak Intergovernmental Agreement, "On visa-free trips of citizens - holders of diplomatic and official passports". It was specified in the document that the citizens of one of the signatories must comply with the laws and rules of another signatory when staying on its territory, including the procedures for registration, stay and movement prescribed for foreigners". The Uzbek-Hungarian Agreement, "On the procedure for visa-free trips of citizens with diplomatic passports" dated October 30, 1997, specifies that "the period , during which citizens from both countries may stay on their territories without any visas should not exceed 30 days from the date of entry". However, at the written request of a diplomatic or consular mission of the signatory, whose citizens are solicited for, another signatory"s Ministry of Foreign Affairs may extend the term of stay up to 90 days.
It seems directly relevant to cite the example of Uzbek-American cooperation in the introduction of a passport system. Within the framework of note exchange between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the US, the countries signed an appropriate agreement, which stated that "the persons applying for non-immigrant visas should be refused the right of entry to the US, if at the date of application for such an entry visa, he (she) lacks a passport valid for a period of six months at the minimum, which allows its holder to return to the country, from which he (she) arrived, or moved to a third country". This requirement is an outgrowth of policy pursued by the US Government, which permits most individuals entering the country with non-immigration visas on hand, to stay on its territory within 6 months. Governments of many countries have signed agreements with the US Government on the extended period of passport validity. Such a passport is recognized as valid for its holder"s return to the country, where the document was issued, within 6 months after the expiry of the latter"s period of validity. This provision makes it possible to issue an US non-immigration visa to its holder at any time during the entire period of the passport"s validity.
A word or two should be said about peculiarities of international collaboration on tourist projects and programs. During the official visit by the President V. Klaus of the Czech Republic to Uzbekistan on September 12-15, 2004, the sides talked over a a whole spectrum of issues surrounding the expansion of bilateral cooperation in political, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian areas, including tourism. Following the visit, the Uzbek Government passed the Resolution, "On measures to further develop cooperation with the Czech Republic", which commissioned the Uzbektourism National Company to set up a working group specializing in the development of tourism in this country, establishment of joint venture tourist agencies and training of personnel for this sector.