OREANDA-NEWS. November 24, 2011. Uzbektourism national company, national tourism administration of Uzbekistan, in partnership with interested ministries and departments developed a draft law “On tourism”.

The draft law is prepared to submit it for consideration of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan.

The draft law “On tourism” consists of four chapters and 24 articles. The document is aimed at regulating relations in tourism sector, development of tourism service market, protection of rights and interests of tourists and subjects of tourism activity.

In line with the law, cultural-recreational tourism zones can be created to develop tourism and preserve tourism resources in proper condition, as well as stimulating attraction of investments into their development.

Touristic zones are created in territory of one or several administrative-territorial unit, where touristic resources are concentrated and have great potential for tourism development.

Touristic zones can be created of national or territorial importance. Touristic zones of national importance are created by the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, territorial ones – by local administrations.

State regulation of tourism sector in Uzbekistan is carried out by the Cabinet of Ministers and the authorized state body in tourism sector in line with their jurisdiction, which is also set by the document.

According to the law, the authorized state body in tourism in cooperation with the interested ministries and bodies develop and adopt necessary measures on ensuring security and protection of tourists.

Subjects in tourism sector develop concrete measures on ensuring security of tourists, rendering medical and other aid at natural disasters, injures, illness and other cases.

The measures on ensuring security should envisages personal security of tourists, safety of their property, warning from damaging environment, material and spiritual values of the society, state safety, as well prevent use of tourism for illegal migration, sexual, labour and other exploitation of people.

The authorized state body in tourism sector informs tour operators, agents and tourists on threat to security, the document said.

To ensure safety of tourists, tour organizations should inform tourists about danger, which can occur at touristic route or in the result of the tourists behavior. They should also inform tourists on methods of preventing and protection from injuries and accidents, etc.

They also should render aid to tourists in disaster, including with help of tour guides and translators, instructors and others, including special rescue services.

The law said that tourism activity is carried out based on license. The Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan will determine order of licensing of tourism activity.

According to the document, services on placement of tourists (hotel services) should undergo mandatory certification. The certification is conducted by the accredited bodies on certification in line with the legislation.

Individuals, who wish to render services of guide or guide-translator, should undergo training in established order. Instructor-guide should undergo certification by the commission, the draft law said. The authorized state body in tourism sector determines order of certification of guides, guide-translators and instructor-guides.

Insurance of tourists is voluntary and tourists should obtain insurance policy themselves from insurance organizations, which have right to render such services.

Tourism organizations have right to require insurance policy from tourists based on specification and forms of tourism products.

The draft law also regulates other issues of tourism sector, including rights and obligations of tourists, information disclosure on terms of tourism services, responsibilities for violation of legislation, etc.