Rules for organizing tourism at Uzbekistan's reservoirs approved

Cabinet of Ministers approves rules for tourism organization at Uzbekistan's reservoirs

On 5 November, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a regulation on organizing tourism services on the territory of reservoirs and around them; the document has been published on Lex.uz, as reported by Spot.uz. Services may be provided on unbuilt non-agricultural land plots near reservoirs, and proposals for their organization are reviewed by regional khokimiyats.

Who can initiate projects and how land will be allocated

Project initiators may be private entrepreneurs, the Ministry of Water Management, the Tourism Committee or Uzbekhydroenergo. Land plots for tourism services will be allocated through online auctions, and revenue from land sales will go toward covering the costs of developing master plans and projects, developing tourism zones, and building and upgrading engineering infrastructure and roads.

Master plans and safety requirements

Master plans will be developed for tourism facilities near reservoirs: they will provide for the placement of tourism and service infrastructure, utilities, roads, recreation and mass leisure zones, measures to ensure visitors' safety, evacuation routes, as well as measures to protect water resources and reduce the impact on nature. When placing facilities, developers must take into account water resource protection zones, sanitary protection zones, and the risks of floods and landslides.

Safety passport and facility equipment

A safety passport will be created for each facility, indicating the maximum number of visitors, the main natural and man-made sources of risk, the likelihood of emergencies (mudflows, floods, fires) and their consequences, warning means, evacuation routes and safe assembly points, as well as rescue equipment, first aid and firefighting equipment. Organizers are required to establish their own rescue service or sign a contract with professional rescuers and monitor the safe use of small vessels. Mandatory equipment requirements include rescue boats, observation towers, water depth markers and warning signs about restricted zones and weather limitations. Facilities must have internal sewage systems and treatment facilities to prevent wastewater discharge into water bodies, and organizers must conclude waste removal contracts. The regulation also provides for the introduction of digital maps, online booking and QR-code-based navigation.

Context: tax incentives for tourism businesses at reservoirs

The new regulation complements a previously announced support measure: as Spot previously wrote, tourism businesses at reservoirs will receive a 50% reduction in property and land taxes. Thus, the adopted document turns reservoir tourism development from a plan of incentives into concrete procedural rules — from allocating plots through auctions to safety and environmental requirements.