{"id":35939,"date":"2021-04-21T22:47:16","date_gmt":"2021-04-21T22:47:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/?p=35939"},"modified":"2021-04-26T23:13:40","modified_gmt":"2021-04-26T23:13:40","slug":"uzbekistans-travel-trade-transformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/uzbekistans-travel-trade-transformation\/","title":{"rendered":"Uzbekistan\u2019s Travel &#038; Trade Transformation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-xd-layout \n  container\n XD-mt--sm XD-mb--sm\n undefined\n XD-h-100--sm XD-h-100--md XD-h-100--lg XD-h-100--xl\" style=\"background-size:cover;background-color:\" uk-scrollspy=\"\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\" col-sm-12 col-md-8 col-lg-6 col-xl-6 offset-sm-0 offset-md-2 offset-lg-3 offset-xl-3\">\n<p>The <strong>Silk Route is a network of ancient trade routes linking East and West<\/strong> and facilitating the exchange of goods, treasure, knowledge, and religion. One of the largest centers for trade and culture in Central Asia centered on Samarkand, a fabled oasis town settled since the 6<sup>th<\/sup> century BC and second largest city in modern-day <a href=\"\/country\/uzbekistan\/\">Uzbekistan<\/a>. Artifacts, ruins, and amazing architectural backdrops bring to life what drew camel caravans carrying Silk Road explorers and world conquerors like Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Tamerlane to Samarkand so long ago.&nbsp;Yet, <strong>a modern-day Silk Road is taking shape here as Uzbekistan opens to the world<\/strong> and modernizes in many ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"834\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Uzbekistan-Samarkand-281-LindsayFincher-1024x834.jpg\" alt=\"Architectural wonders in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Lindsay Fincher\" class=\"wp-image-36123\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Uzbekistan-Samarkand-281-LindsayFincher-1024x834.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Uzbekistan-Samarkand-281-LindsayFincher-300x244.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Uzbekistan-Samarkand-281-LindsayFincher-768x626.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Uzbekistan-Samarkand-281-LindsayFincher-1536x1252.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Uzbekistan-Samarkand-281-LindsayFincher-2048x1669.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Uzbekistan-Samarkand-281-LindsayFincher-150x122.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Uzbekistan-Samarkand-281-LindsayFincher-600x489.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Uzbekistan-Samarkand-281-LindsayFincher-1104x900.jpg 1104w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Uzbekistan-Samarkand-281-LindsayFincher-1325x1080.jpg 1325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Architectural wonders in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Lindsay Fincher<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>An astounding transformation is taking shape in this land of antiquity as it shakes off its more recent Soviet past and aims to emerge as a contemporary destination<\/strong> for the modern traveler and investor. There\u2019s lots to cheer about. In addition to reopening the country to tourism in March 2021, a surprising amount of forward economic progress has transpired in the past few years under the country\u2019s current leadership, in power since 2016. Here are just a few notable changes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Reform<\/strong>: Making the national currency, the Uzbek sum, convertible for the first time created a foundation for foreign investment and knocked out one of the last black markets in the former territories of the USSR.<\/li><li><strong>Reintegration<\/strong>: Mending relations with neighboring countries is essential to spur regional growth, and re-establishing direct flight service between the capitals of Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Dushanbe, Tajikistan after a 20-year hiatus was just one of many positive changes. &nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>Railways<\/strong>: Modernization of the railway network and the introduction of high-speed Spanish-built <em>Talgo<\/em> trains onto newly electrified rail lines connecting the principal cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara is great for tourism and business.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And while there is a long way to go, there\u2019s no denying progress. The <em>Economist<\/em> named\u00a0Uzbekistan its\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/leaders\/2019\/12\/21\/which-nation-improved-the-most-in-2019\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">most improved country of the year in 2019<\/a>,\u00a0and continued reforms in 2020\u00a0<strong class=\"\">placed Uzbekistan in the top twenty most improved economies for ease of doing business<\/strong> according to the World Bank Group\u2019s\u00a0<a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/openknowledge.worldbank.org\/handle\/10986\/32436\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong class=\"\">Doing Business 2020<\/strong><\/a> study. And check out this\u00a0<a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.worldbank.org\/en\/news\/video\/2021\/03\/19\/supporting-transformative-reforms-in-uzbekistan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">great video the World Bank just put out<\/a>\u00a0about Uzbekistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But rather than recount a laundry list of statistics, facts, and figures that delight economists in what they see here, let us instead share <strong>first-hand insights from a guide and tour manager living and working in Uzbekistan<\/strong> about how life has been impacted by these reforms over the course of the last few years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our man in Samarkand, <strong>Abdu Samadov, sums it up like this:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FullSizeRender-AbduSamadov-cropped.jpeg\" alt=\"Abdu Samadov in his office, Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\" class=\"wp-image-27021\" width=\"473\" height=\"473\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FullSizeRender-AbduSamadov-cropped.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FullSizeRender-AbduSamadov-cropped-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FullSizeRender-AbduSamadov-cropped-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FullSizeRender-AbduSamadov-cropped-600x600.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 473px) 100vw, 473px\" \/><figcaption>Abdu Samadov in his office, Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-xd-standardcarousel js-xd-components__carousel\">\n  <div class=\"js-xd-components__carousel\">\n    <div uk-slider  >\n      <div class=\"uk-position-relative\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n        <ul\n          id=\"block_60746d35772d5-carousel\"\n          class=\"uk-slider-items uk-child-width-1-1 uk-child-width-1-2@s uk-child-width-1-3@m uk-child-width-1-4@l uk-grid uk-grid-small  js-xd-components__carousel-lightbox-open\">\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-150x113.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-1440x1080.jpg 1440w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Intricate design of the ceiling in Navruz Palace, Dushanbe (Tajikistan.) Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"1440\"\n  width=\"1920\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/CRAFTS-CERAMICS-UZ-4-9-2017-10-43-17-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-150x97.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/CRAFTS-CERAMICS-UZ-4-9-2017-10-43-17-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov.jpg 1308w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/CRAFTS-CERAMICS-UZ-4-9-2017-10-43-17-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/CRAFTS-CERAMICS-UZ-4-9-2017-10-43-17-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-1024x663.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/CRAFTS-CERAMICS-UZ-4-9-2017-10-43-17-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-768x497.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/CRAFTS-CERAMICS-UZ-4-9-2017-10-43-17-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/CRAFTS-CERAMICS-UZ-4-9-2017-10-43-17-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-600x389.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 1308px) 100vw, 1308px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Ceramics for sale in crafts market of Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"847\"\n  width=\"1308\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/BIBIHANUM-COMPLEX-SAMARKAND-UZ-9-11-2017-2-02-17-PM-exterior-ASamadov-800-150x110.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/BIBIHANUM-COMPLEX-SAMARKAND-UZ-9-11-2017-2-02-17-PM-exterior-ASamadov-800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/BIBIHANUM-COMPLEX-SAMARKAND-UZ-9-11-2017-2-02-17-PM-exterior-ASamadov-800-300x219.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/BIBIHANUM-COMPLEX-SAMARKAND-UZ-9-11-2017-2-02-17-PM-exterior-ASamadov-800-768x562.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/BIBIHANUM-COMPLEX-SAMARKAND-UZ-9-11-2017-2-02-17-PM-exterior-ASamadov-800-150x110.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/BIBIHANUM-COMPLEX-SAMARKAND-UZ-9-11-2017-2-02-17-PM-exterior-ASamadov-800-600x439.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"It's said that 95 elephants transported the marble and other materials used to build Bibi-Khanum Mosque. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"585\"\n  width=\"800\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-150x145.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-300x290.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-1024x990.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-768x742.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-1536x1485.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-150x145.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-600x580.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-931x900.jpg 931w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-1117x1080.jpg 1117w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Weaving carpet in Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"1856\"\n  width=\"1920\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n          \n        <\/ul>\n        <a\n          class=\"uk-position-center-left uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover\"\n          href=\"#\"\n          uk-slidenav-previous=\"uk-slidenav-previous\"\n          uk-slider-item=\"previous\"\n          ><\/a>\n        <a\n          class=\"uk-position-center-right uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover\"\n          href=\"#\"\n          uk-slidenav-next=\"uk-slidenav-next\"\n          uk-slider-item=\"next\"\n        ><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"uk-slider-nav uk-dotnav uk-flex-center uk-margin\" ><\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n      \n  <div id=\"block_60746d35772d5-lightbox\" class=\"uk-modal-container xd-components__media-grid-lightbox uk-modal\" uk-modal=\"uk-modal\">\n    <div class=\"uk-modal-dialog uk-modal-body\">\n      <button class=\"uk-modal-close-outside\" type=\"button\" uk-close=\"uk-close\"><\/button>\n      <div id=\"block_60746d35772d5-lightbox-slider\" uk-slider=\"uk-slider\">\n        <div class=\"uk-position-relative\">\n          <div class=\"uk-slider-container\">\n            <ul class=\"uk-slider-items uk-child-width-1-1\">\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-150x113.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/KOHI-NAVRUZ-DUSHANBE-TJ-10-4-2018-11-47-02-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-1440x1080.jpg 1440w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Intricate design of the ceiling in Navruz Palace, Dushanbe (Tajikistan.) Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"1440\"\n  width=\"1920\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Intricate design of the ceiling in Navruz Palace, Dushanbe.<\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Abdu Samadov<\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/CRAFTS-CERAMICS-UZ-4-9-2017-10-43-17-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-150x97.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/CRAFTS-CERAMICS-UZ-4-9-2017-10-43-17-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov.jpg 1308w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/CRAFTS-CERAMICS-UZ-4-9-2017-10-43-17-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/CRAFTS-CERAMICS-UZ-4-9-2017-10-43-17-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-1024x663.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/CRAFTS-CERAMICS-UZ-4-9-2017-10-43-17-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-768x497.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/CRAFTS-CERAMICS-UZ-4-9-2017-10-43-17-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/CRAFTS-CERAMICS-UZ-4-9-2017-10-43-17-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-600x389.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 1308px) 100vw, 1308px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Ceramics for sale in crafts market of Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"847\"\n  width=\"1308\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Ceramics for sale in crafts market of Uzbekistan.<\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Abdu Samadov<\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/BIBIHANUM-COMPLEX-SAMARKAND-UZ-9-11-2017-2-02-17-PM-exterior-ASamadov-800-150x110.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/BIBIHANUM-COMPLEX-SAMARKAND-UZ-9-11-2017-2-02-17-PM-exterior-ASamadov-800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/BIBIHANUM-COMPLEX-SAMARKAND-UZ-9-11-2017-2-02-17-PM-exterior-ASamadov-800-300x219.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/BIBIHANUM-COMPLEX-SAMARKAND-UZ-9-11-2017-2-02-17-PM-exterior-ASamadov-800-768x562.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/BIBIHANUM-COMPLEX-SAMARKAND-UZ-9-11-2017-2-02-17-PM-exterior-ASamadov-800-150x110.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/BIBIHANUM-COMPLEX-SAMARKAND-UZ-9-11-2017-2-02-17-PM-exterior-ASamadov-800-600x439.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"It's said that 95 elephants transported the marble and other materials used to build Bibi-Khanum Mosque. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"585\"\n  width=\"800\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">It&#8217;s said that 95 elephants transported the marble and other materials used to build Bibi-Khanum Mosque.<\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Abdu Samadov<\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-150x145.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-300x290.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-1024x990.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-768x742.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-1536x1485.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-150x145.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-600x580.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-931x900.jpg 931w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/GIRL-WEAVING-CARPET-Abdu-Samadov-1117x1080.jpg 1117w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Weaving carpet in Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"1856\"\n  width=\"1920\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Weaving carpet in Uzbekistan.<\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Abdu Samadov<\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n          <\/div>\n          <a class=\"uk-position-center-left uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover uk-icon uk-slidenav-previous uk-slidenav\" href=\"#\" uk-slidenav-previous=\"uk-slidenav-previous\" uk-slider-item=\"previous\"><\/a>\n          <a class=\"uk-position-center-right uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover uk-icon uk-slidenav-next uk-slidenav\"\n            href=\"#\" uk-slidenav-next=\"uk-slidenav-next\" uk-slider-item=\"next\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"uk-slider-nav uk-dotnav\">\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-xd-layout \n  container\n XD-mt--sm XD-mb--sm\n undefined\n XD-h-100--sm XD-h-100--md XD-h-100--lg XD-h-100--xl\" style=\"background-size:cover;background-color:\" uk-scrollspy=\"\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\" col-sm-12 col-md-8 col-lg-6 col-xl-6 offset-sm-0 offset-md-2 offset-lg-3 offset-xl-3\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Liberal Economic Policies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Abdu:<\/strong> &#8220;One of the many changes that we have had since the current president, Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, won the election in 2016 is that we have a more liberal and market-oriented economy now. In the past, it was difficult for travelers to find an exchange point that was easy to get local currency in the market rate. Now, everyone can buy local currency in many of the exchange points available throughout the country. Even in the smaller and more outlying towns, such as Khiva, travelers now have a chance to change their foreign currency without their passports. While in the past travelers had to wait in a long line at a bank branch with their passport &#8212; now it\u2019s even possible for travelers to get local currency exchanged directly from a credit or debit cards.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-xd-standardcarousel js-xd-components__carousel\">\n  <div class=\"js-xd-components__carousel\">\n    <div uk-slider  >\n      <div class=\"uk-position-relative\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n        <ul\n          id=\"block_60747262772d7-carousel\"\n          class=\"uk-slider-items uk-child-width-1-1 uk-child-width-1-2@s uk-child-width-1-3@m uk-grid uk-grid-small  js-xd-components__carousel-lightbox-open\">\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Foto-29-08-14-11-23-14-618-150x112.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Foto-29-08-14-11-23-14-618.jpg 618w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Foto-29-08-14-11-23-14-618-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Foto-29-08-14-11-23-14-618-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Foto-29-08-14-11-23-14-618-600x449.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Hand-stitched goods in Shahrisabz, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Michel Behar\"\n  height=\"462\"\n  width=\"618\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2336-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-MGilboy-618-1-150x97.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2336-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-MGilboy-618-1.jpg 618w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2336-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-MGilboy-618-1-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2336-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-MGilboy-618-1-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2336-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-MGilboy-618-1-600x388.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Uzbek ikat silk fabrics are bold in color and complex in design \u2013 truly treasures of the Silk Road. Photo credit: Megan Gilboy\"\n  height=\"400\"\n  width=\"618\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DSC_8769-150x100.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DSC_8769.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DSC_8769-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DSC_8769-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DSC_8769-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DSC_8769-600x401.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Smiling vendors show off their beautiful embroidered suzani in Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Phil Kidd\"\n  height=\"534\"\n  width=\"800\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n          \n        <\/ul>\n        <a\n          class=\"uk-position-center-left uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover\"\n          href=\"#\"\n          uk-slidenav-previous=\"uk-slidenav-previous\"\n          uk-slider-item=\"previous\"\n          ><\/a>\n        <a\n          class=\"uk-position-center-right uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover\"\n          href=\"#\"\n          uk-slidenav-next=\"uk-slidenav-next\"\n          uk-slider-item=\"next\"\n        ><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"uk-slider-nav uk-dotnav uk-flex-center uk-margin\" ><\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n      \n  <div id=\"block_60747262772d7-lightbox\" class=\"uk-modal-container xd-components__media-grid-lightbox uk-modal\" uk-modal=\"uk-modal\">\n    <div class=\"uk-modal-dialog uk-modal-body\">\n      <button class=\"uk-modal-close-outside\" type=\"button\" uk-close=\"uk-close\"><\/button>\n      <div id=\"block_60747262772d7-lightbox-slider\" uk-slider=\"uk-slider\">\n        <div class=\"uk-position-relative\">\n          <div class=\"uk-slider-container\">\n            <ul class=\"uk-slider-items uk-child-width-1-1\">\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Foto-29-08-14-11-23-14-618-150x112.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Foto-29-08-14-11-23-14-618.jpg 618w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Foto-29-08-14-11-23-14-618-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Foto-29-08-14-11-23-14-618-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Foto-29-08-14-11-23-14-618-600x449.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Hand-stitched goods in Shahrisabz, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Michel Behar\"\n  height=\"462\"\n  width=\"618\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Hand-stitched goods in Shahrisabz, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Michel Behar<\/span>\n                                                        <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2336-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-MGilboy-618-1-150x97.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2336-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-MGilboy-618-1.jpg 618w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2336-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-MGilboy-618-1-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2336-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-MGilboy-618-1-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2336-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-MGilboy-618-1-600x388.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Uzbek ikat silk fabrics are bold in color and complex in design \u2013 truly treasures of the Silk Road. Photo credit: Megan Gilboy\"\n  height=\"400\"\n  width=\"618\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Uzbek ikat silk fabrics are bold in color and complex in design \u2013 truly treasures of the Silk Road.\nPhoto credit: Megan Gilboy\n<\/span>\n                                                        <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DSC_8769-150x100.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DSC_8769.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DSC_8769-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DSC_8769-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DSC_8769-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DSC_8769-600x401.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Smiling vendors show off their beautiful embroidered suzani in Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Phil Kidd\"\n  height=\"534\"\n  width=\"800\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Smiling vendors show off their beautiful embroidered suzani in Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Phil Kidd<\/span>\n                                                        <\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n          <\/div>\n          <a class=\"uk-position-center-left uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover uk-icon uk-slidenav-previous uk-slidenav\" href=\"#\" uk-slidenav-previous=\"uk-slidenav-previous\" uk-slider-item=\"previous\"><\/a>\n          <a class=\"uk-position-center-right uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover uk-icon uk-slidenav-next uk-slidenav\"\n            href=\"#\" uk-slidenav-next=\"uk-slidenav-next\" uk-slider-item=\"next\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"uk-slider-nav uk-dotnav\">\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Uzbekistan is slowly moving towards the digitalization of the economy and travelers have many more opportunities to use credit cards to pay for services they receive in the majority of hotels, many restaurants, and souvenir shops. In the past, tour companies and local guides would encourage travelers to bring most of their money in cash, and while a certain amount in cash still makes sense (especially if you want to avoid extra fees for credit card use), it is no longer needed in the same manner as in the past. Major credit cards are gaining acceptance throughout the country, and you may walk into a newly installed ATM in the main cities to withdraw, exchange or load money onto your cards.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-xd-standardcarousel js-xd-components__carousel\">\n  <div class=\"js-xd-components__carousel\">\n    <div uk-slider  >\n      <div class=\"uk-position-relative\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n        <ul\n          id=\"block_6073a2c78b5eb-carousel\"\n          class=\"uk-slider-items uk-child-width-1-1 uk-child-width-1-2@s uk-child-width-1-3@m uk-child-width-1-4@l uk-grid uk-grid-small  js-xd-components__carousel-lightbox-open\">\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/NEWLYWEDS-IN-BUKHARA-UZ-6-1-2018-7-00-40-PM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-150x97.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/NEWLYWEDS-IN-BUKHARA-UZ-6-1-2018-7-00-40-PM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov.jpg 1308w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/NEWLYWEDS-IN-BUKHARA-UZ-6-1-2018-7-00-40-PM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/NEWLYWEDS-IN-BUKHARA-UZ-6-1-2018-7-00-40-PM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-1024x663.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/NEWLYWEDS-IN-BUKHARA-UZ-6-1-2018-7-00-40-PM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-768x497.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/NEWLYWEDS-IN-BUKHARA-UZ-6-1-2018-7-00-40-PM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/NEWLYWEDS-IN-BUKHARA-UZ-6-1-2018-7-00-40-PM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-600x389.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 1308px) 100vw, 1308px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Newlyweds in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"847\"\n  width=\"1308\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/BUKHARA-LABI-HAUZ-20-09-2015-09-07-00-150x103.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/BUKHARA-LABI-HAUZ-20-09-2015-09-07-00.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/BUKHARA-LABI-HAUZ-20-09-2015-09-07-00-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/BUKHARA-LABI-HAUZ-20-09-2015-09-07-00-768x526.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/BUKHARA-LABI-HAUZ-20-09-2015-09-07-00-150x103.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/BUKHARA-LABI-HAUZ-20-09-2015-09-07-00-600x411.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Bukhara\u2019s Lyabi-Hauz is an oasis within a Silk Road oasis, for centuries a place to meet, eat, and relax. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"548\"\n  width=\"800\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_9390-web-150x113.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_9390-web.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_9390-web-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_9390-web-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_9390-web-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_9390-web-600x450.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Hello from a spice vendor in Bukhara. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"600\"\n  width=\"800\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PLOV-TABLE-UZ-9-3-2017-2-39-18-PM-3024x3106-Abdu-Samadov-150x97.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PLOV-TABLE-UZ-9-3-2017-2-39-18-PM-3024x3106-Abdu-Samadov.jpg 1308w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PLOV-TABLE-UZ-9-3-2017-2-39-18-PM-3024x3106-Abdu-Samadov-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PLOV-TABLE-UZ-9-3-2017-2-39-18-PM-3024x3106-Abdu-Samadov-1024x663.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PLOV-TABLE-UZ-9-3-2017-2-39-18-PM-3024x3106-Abdu-Samadov-768x497.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PLOV-TABLE-UZ-9-3-2017-2-39-18-PM-3024x3106-Abdu-Samadov-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PLOV-TABLE-UZ-9-3-2017-2-39-18-PM-3024x3106-Abdu-Samadov-600x389.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 1308px) 100vw, 1308px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"A tasty lunch of \"plov.\" Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"847\"\n  width=\"1308\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n          \n        <\/ul>\n        <a\n          class=\"uk-position-center-left uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover\"\n          href=\"#\"\n          uk-slidenav-previous=\"uk-slidenav-previous\"\n          uk-slider-item=\"previous\"\n          ><\/a>\n        <a\n          class=\"uk-position-center-right uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover\"\n          href=\"#\"\n          uk-slidenav-next=\"uk-slidenav-next\"\n          uk-slider-item=\"next\"\n        ><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"uk-slider-nav uk-dotnav uk-flex-center uk-margin\" ><\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n      \n  <div id=\"block_6073a2c78b5eb-lightbox\" class=\"uk-modal-container xd-components__media-grid-lightbox uk-modal\" uk-modal=\"uk-modal\">\n    <div class=\"uk-modal-dialog uk-modal-body\">\n      <button class=\"uk-modal-close-outside\" type=\"button\" uk-close=\"uk-close\"><\/button>\n      <div id=\"block_6073a2c78b5eb-lightbox-slider\" uk-slider=\"uk-slider\">\n        <div class=\"uk-position-relative\">\n          <div class=\"uk-slider-container\">\n            <ul class=\"uk-slider-items uk-child-width-1-1\">\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/NEWLYWEDS-IN-BUKHARA-UZ-6-1-2018-7-00-40-PM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-150x97.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/NEWLYWEDS-IN-BUKHARA-UZ-6-1-2018-7-00-40-PM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov.jpg 1308w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/NEWLYWEDS-IN-BUKHARA-UZ-6-1-2018-7-00-40-PM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/NEWLYWEDS-IN-BUKHARA-UZ-6-1-2018-7-00-40-PM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-1024x663.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/NEWLYWEDS-IN-BUKHARA-UZ-6-1-2018-7-00-40-PM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-768x497.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/NEWLYWEDS-IN-BUKHARA-UZ-6-1-2018-7-00-40-PM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/NEWLYWEDS-IN-BUKHARA-UZ-6-1-2018-7-00-40-PM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-600x389.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 1308px) 100vw, 1308px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Newlyweds in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"847\"\n  width=\"1308\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Newlyweds in Bukhara, Uzbekistan.<\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Abdu Samadov<\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/BUKHARA-LABI-HAUZ-20-09-2015-09-07-00-150x103.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/BUKHARA-LABI-HAUZ-20-09-2015-09-07-00.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/BUKHARA-LABI-HAUZ-20-09-2015-09-07-00-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/BUKHARA-LABI-HAUZ-20-09-2015-09-07-00-768x526.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/BUKHARA-LABI-HAUZ-20-09-2015-09-07-00-150x103.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/BUKHARA-LABI-HAUZ-20-09-2015-09-07-00-600x411.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Bukhara\u2019s Lyabi-Hauz is an oasis within a Silk Road oasis, for centuries a place to meet, eat, and relax. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"548\"\n  width=\"800\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Bukhara\u2019s Lyabi-Hauz is an oasis within a Silk Road oasis, for centuries a place to meet, eat, and relax.<\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Abdu Samadov\n<\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_9390-web-150x113.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_9390-web.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_9390-web-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_9390-web-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_9390-web-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_9390-web-600x450.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Hello from a spice vendor in Bukhara. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"600\"\n  width=\"800\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Hello from a spice vendor in Bukhara. <\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Abdu Samadov<\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PLOV-TABLE-UZ-9-3-2017-2-39-18-PM-3024x3106-Abdu-Samadov-150x97.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PLOV-TABLE-UZ-9-3-2017-2-39-18-PM-3024x3106-Abdu-Samadov.jpg 1308w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PLOV-TABLE-UZ-9-3-2017-2-39-18-PM-3024x3106-Abdu-Samadov-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PLOV-TABLE-UZ-9-3-2017-2-39-18-PM-3024x3106-Abdu-Samadov-1024x663.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PLOV-TABLE-UZ-9-3-2017-2-39-18-PM-3024x3106-Abdu-Samadov-768x497.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PLOV-TABLE-UZ-9-3-2017-2-39-18-PM-3024x3106-Abdu-Samadov-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PLOV-TABLE-UZ-9-3-2017-2-39-18-PM-3024x3106-Abdu-Samadov-600x389.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 1308px) 100vw, 1308px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"A tasty lunch of \"plov.\" Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"847\"\n  width=\"1308\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">A tasty lunch of &#8220;plov.&#8221; <\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Abdu Samadov <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n          <\/div>\n          <a class=\"uk-position-center-left uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover uk-icon uk-slidenav-previous uk-slidenav\" href=\"#\" uk-slidenav-previous=\"uk-slidenav-previous\" uk-slider-item=\"previous\"><\/a>\n          <a class=\"uk-position-center-right uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover uk-icon uk-slidenav-next uk-slidenav\"\n            href=\"#\" uk-slidenav-next=\"uk-slidenav-next\" uk-slider-item=\"next\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"uk-slider-nav uk-dotnav\">\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-xd-layout \n  container\n XD-mt--sm XD-mb--sm\n undefined\n XD-h-100--sm XD-h-100--md XD-h-100--lg XD-h-100--xl\" style=\"background-size:cover;background-color:\" uk-scrollspy=\"\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\" col-sm-12 col-md-8 col-lg-6 col-xl-6 offset-sm-0 offset-md-2 offset-lg-3 offset-xl-3\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Development of Tourism Infrastructure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Abdu:<\/strong> &#8220;Many changes are helping tourism to flourish in the country, and I will try to name a few. One of the major policies introduced by our country\u2019s tourism committee was to support the<strong> construction of hotels<\/strong>. It became easier to register family-run guesthouses and mini-hotels as businesses. Hotel construction was supported with government financial programs and incentives for every new room built. Investors were attracted and are building many new hotels, that range from Hilton Hotels in Tashkent to small boutique lodgings in remote areas. Hyatt has just announced it\u2019s second hotel in Uzbekistan scheduled to open in Bukhara sometime in 2022. These policies have helped the country to cope with the rapidly increasing number of travelers into the country. The increasing competition among hotels is now helping to increase the service and comfort levels as well. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-xd-standardcarousel js-xd-components__carousel\">\n  <div class=\"js-xd-components__carousel\">\n    <div uk-slider  >\n      <div class=\"uk-position-relative\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n        <ul\n          id=\"block_607473ab772d8-carousel\"\n          class=\"uk-slider-items uk-child-width-1-1 uk-child-width-1-2@s uk-grid uk-grid-small  js-xd-components__carousel-lightbox-open\">\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.23.08-113x150.png\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.23.08.png 480w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.23.08-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.23.08-113x150.png 113w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.23.08-450x600.png 450w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Bathroom at the new boutique Zarafshan hotel in Khiva, Uzbekistan..\"\n  height=\"640\"\n  width=\"480\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.22.17-113x150.png\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.22.17.png 480w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.22.17-226x300.png 226w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.22.17-113x150.png 113w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.22.17-451x600.png 451w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Standard twin room at the new boutique Zarafshan hotel in Khiva.\"\n  height=\"638\"\n  width=\"480\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n          \n        <\/ul>\n        <a\n          class=\"uk-position-center-left uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover\"\n          href=\"#\"\n          uk-slidenav-previous=\"uk-slidenav-previous\"\n          uk-slider-item=\"previous\"\n          ><\/a>\n        <a\n          class=\"uk-position-center-right uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover\"\n          href=\"#\"\n          uk-slidenav-next=\"uk-slidenav-next\"\n          uk-slider-item=\"next\"\n        ><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"uk-slider-nav uk-dotnav uk-flex-center uk-margin\" ><\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n      \n  <div id=\"block_607473ab772d8-lightbox\" class=\"uk-modal-container xd-components__media-grid-lightbox uk-modal\" uk-modal=\"uk-modal\">\n    <div class=\"uk-modal-dialog uk-modal-body\">\n      <button class=\"uk-modal-close-outside\" type=\"button\" uk-close=\"uk-close\"><\/button>\n      <div id=\"block_607473ab772d8-lightbox-slider\" uk-slider=\"uk-slider\">\n        <div class=\"uk-position-relative\">\n          <div class=\"uk-slider-container\">\n            <ul class=\"uk-slider-items uk-child-width-1-1\">\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.23.08-113x150.png\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.23.08.png 480w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.23.08-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.23.08-113x150.png 113w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.23.08-450x600.png 450w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Bathroom at the new boutique Zarafshan hotel in Khiva, Uzbekistan..\"\n  height=\"640\"\n  width=\"480\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Bathroom at the new boutique Zarafshan hotel in Khiva.<\/span>\n                                                        <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.22.17-113x150.png\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.22.17.png 480w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.22.17-226x300.png 226w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.22.17-113x150.png 113w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-09-at-13.22.17-451x600.png 451w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Standard twin room at the new boutique Zarafshan hotel in Khiva.\"\n  height=\"638\"\n  width=\"480\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Standard twin room at the new boutique Zarafshan hotel in Khiva.<\/span>\n                                                        <\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n          <\/div>\n          <a class=\"uk-position-center-left uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover uk-icon uk-slidenav-previous uk-slidenav\" href=\"#\" uk-slidenav-previous=\"uk-slidenav-previous\" uk-slider-item=\"previous\"><\/a>\n          <a class=\"uk-position-center-right uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover uk-icon uk-slidenav-next uk-slidenav\"\n            href=\"#\" uk-slidenav-next=\"uk-slidenav-next\" uk-slider-item=\"next\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"uk-slider-nav uk-dotnav\">\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>New rail options<\/strong> make it is less tiring and more convenient to travel between cities from Andijan in the Fergana Valley to the east to Khiva in the west. The country also extended the route network of the high-speed trains cutting transit times from Tashkent to Samarkand to Bukhara in half. More flights have been introduced as well, as a result of a prioritization from the government level. Uzbekistan Airways, our national air carrier, is now connecting more remote cities such as Fergana with Urgench directly, as opposed to the previous situation when routing was always via Tashkent. The partial open-air policy has attracted foreign airlines to come to Uzbekistan and travelers are reaping the rewards for it. For example, Turkish Airlines has added flights connecting Samarkand and Istanbul, and reportedly plan to launch flights directly to Urgench and Fergana as well at some point in the future. Air Arabia started its operations here, and Aeroflot, TransAero, Air Astana, and Turkish Airlines are all increasing their flights into the country. A new start-up carrier, Qanot Sharq, is starting flights within the country to bring competition to this sector and hopefully bring the prices down.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-xd-standardcarousel js-xd-components__carousel\">\n  <div class=\"js-xd-components__carousel\">\n    <div uk-slider  >\n      <div class=\"uk-position-relative\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n        <ul\n          id=\"block_60747433772d9-carousel\"\n          class=\"uk-slider-items uk-child-width-1-1 uk-child-width-1-2@s uk-grid uk-grid-small  js-xd-components__carousel-lightbox-open\">\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-150x84.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-2880x1620.jpg 2880w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-1600x900.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-1920x1080.jpg 1920w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 2880px) 100vw, 2880px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"The modern, high-speed Afrosiab train in Uzbekistan.\"\n  height=\"1620\"\n  width=\"2880\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-150x84.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-2880x1620.jpg 2880w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-1600x900.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-1920x1080.jpg 1920w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 2880px) 100vw, 2880px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Inside the modern, high-speed Afrosiab train in Uzbekistan.\"\n  height=\"1620\"\n  width=\"2880\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n          \n        <\/ul>\n        <a\n          class=\"uk-position-center-left uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover\"\n          href=\"#\"\n          uk-slidenav-previous=\"uk-slidenav-previous\"\n          uk-slider-item=\"previous\"\n          ><\/a>\n        <a\n          class=\"uk-position-center-right uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover\"\n          href=\"#\"\n          uk-slidenav-next=\"uk-slidenav-next\"\n          uk-slider-item=\"next\"\n        ><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"uk-slider-nav uk-dotnav uk-flex-center uk-margin\" ><\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n      \n  <div id=\"block_60747433772d9-lightbox\" class=\"uk-modal-container xd-components__media-grid-lightbox uk-modal\" uk-modal=\"uk-modal\">\n    <div class=\"uk-modal-dialog uk-modal-body\">\n      <button class=\"uk-modal-close-outside\" type=\"button\" uk-close=\"uk-close\"><\/button>\n      <div id=\"block_60747433772d9-lightbox-slider\" uk-slider=\"uk-slider\">\n        <div class=\"uk-position-relative\">\n          <div class=\"uk-slider-container\">\n            <ul class=\"uk-slider-items uk-child-width-1-1\">\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-150x84.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-2880x1620.jpg 2880w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-1600x900.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0655-1920x1080.jpg 1920w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 2880px) 100vw, 2880px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"The modern, high-speed Afrosiab train in Uzbekistan.\"\n  height=\"1620\"\n  width=\"2880\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">The modern, high-speed Afrosiab train in Uzbekistan.<\/span>\n                                                        <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-150x84.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-2880x1620.jpg 2880w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-1600x900.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/DSCN0657-1920x1080.jpg 1920w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 2880px) 100vw, 2880px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Inside the modern, high-speed Afrosiab train in Uzbekistan.\"\n  height=\"1620\"\n  width=\"2880\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Inside the modern, high-speed Afrosiab train in Uzbekistan.<\/span>\n                                                        <\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n          <\/div>\n          <a class=\"uk-position-center-left uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover uk-icon uk-slidenav-previous uk-slidenav\" href=\"#\" uk-slidenav-previous=\"uk-slidenav-previous\" uk-slider-item=\"previous\"><\/a>\n          <a class=\"uk-position-center-right uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover uk-icon uk-slidenav-next uk-slidenav\"\n            href=\"#\" uk-slidenav-next=\"uk-slidenav-next\" uk-slider-item=\"next\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"uk-slider-nav uk-dotnav\">\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The country has set up an <strong>International Tourism University \u2013 Silk Road, in Samarkand<\/strong>. We already have many training centers and institutions to help with the development of professionals who want to work in the sector and help with the expansion of the industry. These new training centers and educational institutions with a focus on tourism will surely help the country to have well-trained hotel staff, professional tour operators, guides, and tour managers \u2013 as each plays a major role in the development of the destination.&nbsp;&#8220;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-xd-standardcarousel js-xd-components__carousel\">\n  <div class=\"js-xd-components__carousel\">\n    <div uk-slider  >\n      <div class=\"uk-position-relative\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n        <ul\n          id=\"block_6073a2b88b5ea-carousel\"\n          class=\"uk-slider-items uk-child-width-1-1 uk-child-width-1-2@s uk-child-width-1-3@m uk-child-width-1-4@l uk-grid uk-grid-small  js-xd-components__carousel-lightbox-open\">\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/img_0766-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-weaving-Richard-Fefjar-618-1-150x97.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/img_0766-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-weaving-Richard-Fefjar-618-1.jpg 618w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/img_0766-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-weaving-Richard-Fefjar-618-1-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/img_0766-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-weaving-Richard-Fefjar-618-1-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/img_0766-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-weaving-Richard-Fefjar-618-1-600x388.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Weaving a colourful ikat pattern, popular in Uzbek silk fabrics. Photo credit: Richard Fejfar\"\n  height=\"400\"\n  width=\"618\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PLOV-IN-SAMARKAND-1-10-2017-12-59-002-ASamadov-800-1-150x113.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PLOV-IN-SAMARKAND-1-10-2017-12-59-002-ASamadov-800-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PLOV-IN-SAMARKAND-1-10-2017-12-59-002-ASamadov-800-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PLOV-IN-SAMARKAND-1-10-2017-12-59-002-ASamadov-800-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PLOV-IN-SAMARKAND-1-10-2017-12-59-002-ASamadov-800-1-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PLOV-IN-SAMARKAND-1-10-2017-12-59-002-ASamadov-800-1-600x450.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Samarkand-style plov is elegantly presented for a holiday celebration. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"600\"\n  width=\"800\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/UZ-2006-JTCA-AF-456-150x100.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/UZ-2006-JTCA-AF-456.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/UZ-2006-JTCA-AF-456-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/UZ-2006-JTCA-AF-456-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/UZ-2006-JTCA-AF-456-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/UZ-2006-JTCA-AF-456-600x401.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Friendly smiles greet travelers in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Ana Filonov\"\n  height=\"535\"\n  width=\"800\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/TEAPOT-SET-INSTA-SAMARKAND-UZ-4-6-2018-1-29-46-PM-4032x3024-AbduSamadov-150x113.jpeg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/TEAPOT-SET-INSTA-SAMARKAND-UZ-4-6-2018-1-29-46-PM-4032x3024-AbduSamadov.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/TEAPOT-SET-INSTA-SAMARKAND-UZ-4-6-2018-1-29-46-PM-4032x3024-AbduSamadov-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/TEAPOT-SET-INSTA-SAMARKAND-UZ-4-6-2018-1-29-46-PM-4032x3024-AbduSamadov-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/TEAPOT-SET-INSTA-SAMARKAND-UZ-4-6-2018-1-29-46-PM-4032x3024-AbduSamadov-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/TEAPOT-SET-INSTA-SAMARKAND-UZ-4-6-2018-1-29-46-PM-4032x3024-AbduSamadov-150x113.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/TEAPOT-SET-INSTA-SAMARKAND-UZ-4-6-2018-1-29-46-PM-4032x3024-AbduSamadov-600x450.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/TEAPOT-SET-INSTA-SAMARKAND-UZ-4-6-2018-1-29-46-PM-4032x3024-AbduSamadov-1200x900.jpeg 1200w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Enjoying tea in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"960\"\n  width=\"1280\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n          \n        <\/ul>\n        <a\n          class=\"uk-position-center-left uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover\"\n          href=\"#\"\n          uk-slidenav-previous=\"uk-slidenav-previous\"\n          uk-slider-item=\"previous\"\n          ><\/a>\n        <a\n          class=\"uk-position-center-right uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover\"\n          href=\"#\"\n          uk-slidenav-next=\"uk-slidenav-next\"\n          uk-slider-item=\"next\"\n        ><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"uk-slider-nav uk-dotnav uk-flex-center uk-margin\" ><\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n      \n  <div id=\"block_6073a2b88b5ea-lightbox\" class=\"uk-modal-container xd-components__media-grid-lightbox uk-modal\" uk-modal=\"uk-modal\">\n    <div class=\"uk-modal-dialog uk-modal-body\">\n      <button class=\"uk-modal-close-outside\" type=\"button\" uk-close=\"uk-close\"><\/button>\n      <div id=\"block_6073a2b88b5ea-lightbox-slider\" uk-slider=\"uk-slider\">\n        <div class=\"uk-position-relative\">\n          <div class=\"uk-slider-container\">\n            <ul class=\"uk-slider-items uk-child-width-1-1\">\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/img_0766-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-weaving-Richard-Fefjar-618-1-150x97.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/img_0766-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-weaving-Richard-Fefjar-618-1.jpg 618w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/img_0766-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-weaving-Richard-Fefjar-618-1-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/img_0766-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-weaving-Richard-Fefjar-618-1-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/img_0766-Uzbekistan-silk-ikat-weaving-Richard-Fefjar-618-1-600x388.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Weaving a colourful ikat pattern, popular in Uzbek silk fabrics. Photo credit: Richard Fejfar\"\n  height=\"400\"\n  width=\"618\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Weaving a colourful <i>ikat<\/i> pattern, popular in Uzbek silk fabrics. <\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Richard Fejfar<\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PLOV-IN-SAMARKAND-1-10-2017-12-59-002-ASamadov-800-1-150x113.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PLOV-IN-SAMARKAND-1-10-2017-12-59-002-ASamadov-800-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PLOV-IN-SAMARKAND-1-10-2017-12-59-002-ASamadov-800-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PLOV-IN-SAMARKAND-1-10-2017-12-59-002-ASamadov-800-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PLOV-IN-SAMARKAND-1-10-2017-12-59-002-ASamadov-800-1-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PLOV-IN-SAMARKAND-1-10-2017-12-59-002-ASamadov-800-1-600x450.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Samarkand-style plov is elegantly presented for a holiday celebration. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"600\"\n  width=\"800\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Samarkand-style plov is elegantly presented for a holiday celebration.<\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Abdu Samadov<\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/UZ-2006-JTCA-AF-456-150x100.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/UZ-2006-JTCA-AF-456.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/UZ-2006-JTCA-AF-456-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/UZ-2006-JTCA-AF-456-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/UZ-2006-JTCA-AF-456-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/UZ-2006-JTCA-AF-456-600x401.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Friendly smiles greet travelers in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Ana Filonov\"\n  height=\"535\"\n  width=\"800\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Friendly smiles greet travelers in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. <\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Ana Filonov<\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/TEAPOT-SET-INSTA-SAMARKAND-UZ-4-6-2018-1-29-46-PM-4032x3024-AbduSamadov-150x113.jpeg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/TEAPOT-SET-INSTA-SAMARKAND-UZ-4-6-2018-1-29-46-PM-4032x3024-AbduSamadov.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/TEAPOT-SET-INSTA-SAMARKAND-UZ-4-6-2018-1-29-46-PM-4032x3024-AbduSamadov-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/TEAPOT-SET-INSTA-SAMARKAND-UZ-4-6-2018-1-29-46-PM-4032x3024-AbduSamadov-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/TEAPOT-SET-INSTA-SAMARKAND-UZ-4-6-2018-1-29-46-PM-4032x3024-AbduSamadov-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/TEAPOT-SET-INSTA-SAMARKAND-UZ-4-6-2018-1-29-46-PM-4032x3024-AbduSamadov-150x113.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/TEAPOT-SET-INSTA-SAMARKAND-UZ-4-6-2018-1-29-46-PM-4032x3024-AbduSamadov-600x450.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/TEAPOT-SET-INSTA-SAMARKAND-UZ-4-6-2018-1-29-46-PM-4032x3024-AbduSamadov-1200x900.jpeg 1200w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Enjoying tea in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"960\"\n  width=\"1280\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Enjoying tea in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. <\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Abdu Samadov<\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n          <\/div>\n          <a class=\"uk-position-center-left uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover uk-icon uk-slidenav-previous uk-slidenav\" href=\"#\" uk-slidenav-previous=\"uk-slidenav-previous\" uk-slider-item=\"previous\"><\/a>\n          <a class=\"uk-position-center-right uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover uk-icon uk-slidenav-next uk-slidenav\"\n            href=\"#\" uk-slidenav-next=\"uk-slidenav-next\" uk-slider-item=\"next\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"uk-slider-nav uk-dotnav\">\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-xd-layout \n  container\n XD-mt--sm XD-mb--sm\n undefined\n XD-h-100--sm XD-h-100--md XD-h-100--lg XD-h-100--xl\" style=\"background-size:cover;background-color:\" uk-scrollspy=\"\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\" col-sm-12 col-md-8 col-lg-6 col-xl-6 offset-sm-0 offset-md-2 offset-lg-3 offset-xl-3\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Openness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Abdu:<\/strong> &#8220;Almost everyone in the country agrees on one major change that is visible in all walks of life \u2013 openness. This means a lot to the local people, while it cannot be seen as clearly by recent visitors who did not visit the country a few years ago or in the past. For those of us who live here, and those at MIR who have traveled here for decades, the contrast is truly significant. The major policy of being \u2018open\u2019 extends to freely <strong>opened borders with the neighboring countries for locals and visitors alike<\/strong>. For the locals, it allows us to visit relatives in the neighboring countries such as in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, or Tajikistan. Not only the borders were reopened without restrictions for locals, but the customs and border patrol have undergone training to be more courteous, friendly, and open with the visitors. Locals feel safer with the far less complicated procedures vs. the past. I cross the borders alone and with foreign visitors alike quite regularly. It is a breeze now to cross the borders overland when compared with say, five years back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flying into the country or leaving from the country has never been this<\/strong> easy in my memory. With the introduction of a special Green Corridor policy for the travelers and locals, we had a huge transformation towards development.&nbsp;Again, for a current visitor, this transformation may not seem as profound but when compared to the past, it truly is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of the openness policy, <strong>Uzbekistan is now a visa-free country for the citizens of 80+ countries, including Canada<\/strong>, most European and East Asian countries. The citizens of the U.S. and 50+ more countries can apply for electronic visas for a very reasonable 20 USD price tag.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This centerpiece of the Silk Route \u2013 Uzbekistan \u2013 both old and new, is a surprisingly rich and diverse destination and becoming a more comfortable destination every day. We invite you to explore Uzbekistan with us \u2013 it\u2019s a place to get to now, when you can still experience ancient traditions before it\u2019s completely modernized.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-xd-standardcarousel js-xd-components__carousel\">\n  <div class=\"js-xd-components__carousel\">\n    <div uk-slider  >\n      <div class=\"uk-position-relative\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n        <ul\n          id=\"block_60746eeb772d6-carousel\"\n          class=\"uk-slider-items uk-child-width-1-1 uk-child-width-1-2@s uk-child-width-1-3@m uk-child-width-1-4@l uk-grid uk-grid-small  js-xd-components__carousel-lightbox-open\">\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_1159-AbduSamadov-113x150.jpeg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_1159-AbduSamadov.jpeg 960w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_1159-AbduSamadov-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_1159-AbduSamadov-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_1159-AbduSamadov-113x150.jpeg 113w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_1159-AbduSamadov-450x600.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_1159-AbduSamadov-675x900.jpeg 675w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_1159-AbduSamadov-810x1080.jpeg 810w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Abdu in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"1280\"\n  width=\"960\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/BUKHARA-CERAMICS-STALL-12-06-2013-07-41-31-100x150.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/BUKHARA-CERAMICS-STALL-12-06-2013-07-41-31.jpg 531w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/BUKHARA-CERAMICS-STALL-12-06-2013-07-41-31-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/BUKHARA-CERAMICS-STALL-12-06-2013-07-41-31-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/BUKHARA-CERAMICS-STALL-12-06-2013-07-41-31-398x600.jpg 398w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 531px) 100vw, 531px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Hand-painted Uzbek ceramics. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"800\"\n  width=\"531\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/788A2819_edited-2-Uzbekistan-Suresh-Mehta-100x150.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/788A2819_edited-2-Uzbekistan-Suresh-Mehta.jpg 532w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/788A2819_edited-2-Uzbekistan-Suresh-Mehta-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/788A2819_edited-2-Uzbekistan-Suresh-Mehta-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/788A2819_edited-2-Uzbekistan-Suresh-Mehta-399x600.jpg 399w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 532px) 100vw, 532px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Swirling scarlet dancers with embroidered motifs in Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Suresh Mehta\"\n  height=\"800\"\n  width=\"532\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/FoodDrink-105x150.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/FoodDrink.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/FoodDrink-210x300.jpg 210w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/FoodDrink-105x150.jpg 105w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/FoodDrink-420x600.jpg 420w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Fergana Valley, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"800\"\n  width=\"560\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n          \n        <\/ul>\n        <a\n          class=\"uk-position-center-left uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover\"\n          href=\"#\"\n          uk-slidenav-previous=\"uk-slidenav-previous\"\n          uk-slider-item=\"previous\"\n          ><\/a>\n        <a\n          class=\"uk-position-center-right uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover\"\n          href=\"#\"\n          uk-slidenav-next=\"uk-slidenav-next\"\n          uk-slider-item=\"next\"\n        ><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"uk-slider-nav uk-dotnav uk-flex-center uk-margin\" ><\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n      \n  <div id=\"block_60746eeb772d6-lightbox\" class=\"uk-modal-container xd-components__media-grid-lightbox uk-modal\" uk-modal=\"uk-modal\">\n    <div class=\"uk-modal-dialog uk-modal-body\">\n      <button class=\"uk-modal-close-outside\" type=\"button\" uk-close=\"uk-close\"><\/button>\n      <div id=\"block_60746eeb772d6-lightbox-slider\" uk-slider=\"uk-slider\">\n        <div class=\"uk-position-relative\">\n          <div class=\"uk-slider-container\">\n            <ul class=\"uk-slider-items uk-child-width-1-1\">\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_1159-AbduSamadov-113x150.jpeg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_1159-AbduSamadov.jpeg 960w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_1159-AbduSamadov-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_1159-AbduSamadov-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_1159-AbduSamadov-113x150.jpeg 113w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_1159-AbduSamadov-450x600.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_1159-AbduSamadov-675x900.jpeg 675w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_1159-AbduSamadov-810x1080.jpeg 810w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Abdu in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"1280\"\n  width=\"960\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Abdu in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.<\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Abdu Samadov<\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/BUKHARA-CERAMICS-STALL-12-06-2013-07-41-31-100x150.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/BUKHARA-CERAMICS-STALL-12-06-2013-07-41-31.jpg 531w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/BUKHARA-CERAMICS-STALL-12-06-2013-07-41-31-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/BUKHARA-CERAMICS-STALL-12-06-2013-07-41-31-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/BUKHARA-CERAMICS-STALL-12-06-2013-07-41-31-398x600.jpg 398w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 531px) 100vw, 531px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Hand-painted Uzbek ceramics. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"800\"\n  width=\"531\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Hand-painted Uzbek ceramics. <\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Abdu Samadov<\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/788A2819_edited-2-Uzbekistan-Suresh-Mehta-100x150.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/788A2819_edited-2-Uzbekistan-Suresh-Mehta.jpg 532w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/788A2819_edited-2-Uzbekistan-Suresh-Mehta-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/788A2819_edited-2-Uzbekistan-Suresh-Mehta-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/788A2819_edited-2-Uzbekistan-Suresh-Mehta-399x600.jpg 399w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 532px) 100vw, 532px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Swirling scarlet dancers with embroidered motifs in Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Suresh Mehta\"\n  height=\"800\"\n  width=\"532\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Swirling scarlet dancers with embroidered motifs in Uzbekistan. <\/span>\n                                                        <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/FoodDrink-105x150.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/FoodDrink.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/FoodDrink-210x300.jpg 210w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/FoodDrink-105x150.jpg 105w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/FoodDrink-420x600.jpg 420w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Fergana Valley, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov\"\n  height=\"800\"\n  width=\"560\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Bread in an Uzbekistan bazaar.<\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Abdu Samadov<\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n          <\/div>\n          <a class=\"uk-position-center-left uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover uk-icon uk-slidenav-previous uk-slidenav\" href=\"#\" uk-slidenav-previous=\"uk-slidenav-previous\" uk-slider-item=\"previous\"><\/a>\n          <a class=\"uk-position-center-right uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover uk-icon uk-slidenav-next uk-slidenav\"\n            href=\"#\" uk-slidenav-next=\"uk-slidenav-next\" uk-slider-item=\"next\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"uk-slider-nav uk-dotnav\">\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-xd-layout \n  container\n XD-mt--sm XD-mb--sm\n undefined\n XD-h-100--sm XD-h-100--md XD-h-100--lg XD-h-100--xl\" style=\"background-size:cover;background-color:\" uk-scrollspy=\"\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\" col-sm-12 col-md-8 col-lg-6 col-xl-6 offset-sm-0 offset-md-2 offset-lg-3 offset-xl-3\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignwide has-background-dim-30 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/REGISTAN-SQUARE-IN-SAMARKAND-UZ-6-4-2018-10-22-31-AM-4032x3024-Abdu-Samadov-1920.jpg);min-height:250px\"><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><strong>Travel to Uzbekistan with MIR<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-xd-layout \n  container\n XD-mt--sm XD-mb--sm\n undefined\n XD-h-100--sm XD-h-100--md XD-h-100--lg XD-h-100--xl\" style=\"background-size:cover;background-color:\" uk-scrollspy=\"\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\" col-sm-12 col-md-8 col-lg-6 col-xl-6 offset-sm-0 offset-md-2 offset-lg-3 offset-xl-3\">\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>MIR has more than&nbsp;30 years of travel experience in&nbsp;<a href=\"\/region\/central-asia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Central Asia<\/a>&nbsp;and has an affiliate office in&nbsp;<a href=\"\/country\/uzbekistan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Uzbekistan<\/a>, with&nbsp;a roster of contacts that can take you to places that you didn\u2019t even know you wanted to go. Our&nbsp;full&nbsp;service, dedication, commitment to quality, and destination expertise have&nbsp;twice&nbsp;earned us&nbsp;a place on&nbsp;<em>National Geographic Adventure\u2019s<\/em>list of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/awards-memberships-affiliations\/\">\u201cBest Adventure Travel Companies on Earth.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><strong>Chat with one of our destination specialists today!<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/contact\/\">CONTACT US!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>First-hand insights from our man in Samarkand, Uzbekistan sums up how life for a guide and tour manager working in the tourism industry of Uzbekistan has been impacted over the course of the last few years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":14307,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Uzbekistan\u2019s Travel &amp; Trade Transformation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How life for a guide and tour manager working in the tourism industry of Uzbekistan has been impacted over the course of the last few years.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/uzbekistans-travel-trade-transformation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Uzbekistan\u2019s Travel &amp; Trade Transformation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How life for a guide and tour manager working in the tourism industry of Uzbekistan has been impacted over the course of the last few years.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/uzbekistans-travel-trade-transformation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"MIR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MIR.Corporation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-04-21T22:47:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-04-26T23:13:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Samarkand-Uzbekistan-October-2019-2-JakeSmith-1920.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"651\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Amy Stidger\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@mircorp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@mircorp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Amy Stidger\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/uzbekistans-travel-trade-transformation\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/uzbekistans-travel-trade-transformation\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Amy Stidger\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/#\/schema\/person\/d3441658f578b1b2cb3a0354c2ca151e\"},\"headline\":\"Uzbekistan\u2019s Travel &#038; 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