TASHKENT, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan will resume domestic tourism in the country's regions less affected by the COVID-19 pandemic from June 1, the Uzbek justice ministry said Friday, citing a presidential decree.
The country will also gradually reopen its borders for tourists from coronavirus-free countries.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's decree, signed on May 28, aims to take urgent measures to support the tourism industry, in an effort to mitigate the adverse impact of the pandemic, the ministry said.
Earlier this month, Uzbekistan designated three levels of quarantine severity -- red, yellow and green -- depending on the epidemiological situation of districts, towns and cities.
In the regions defined as green and yellow by the country's Special Republican Commission to Combat Coronavirus, tour operators, travel agencies, hotels and cultural sites will be allowed to resume operation in strict compliance with sanitary rules, according to the decree.
Inbound tourism will be gradually restored to countries whose citizens are allowed to enter Uzbekistan, said the ministry, adding the decree also grants tax relief and other privileges for tour operators, travel agencies and hotels till the end of year.
Uzbekistan has registered 3,444 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 14 deaths and 2,694 recoveries so far. Enditem
