The State Aviation Administration hosted a meeting with officials of foreign airlines. The meeting was devoted to the subject of provision by carriers of information on transit passengers, the Committee for Tourism development said.

Starting from July 15, according to the Presidential decree, the 5-day visa-free transit procedure has taken effect for the citizens of 101 countries at the Uzbek airports, provided they hold an air-ticket to a third country, However only the carriers who provide information about passengers to the Border Guard are eligible for transit stay. Until now, such information has been provided only by the National Air Company "Uzbekistan Airways".

On August 23, a Chinese citizen, who arrived from Baku to Tashkent for three days and who was planning afterwards to fly to Moscow on a Russian UTair flight, was not allowed into the country, since this airline did not provide information about transit passengers. According to the information of the Border Guards' press service, the Chinese tourist was briefed on the transit procedure in Uzbekistan, after which the party who invited him had to buy a Uzbekistan Airways ticket to Moscow, and then he could enter into Tashkent on transit stay.

The Committee for Tourism reports that foreign air carriers are considering providing information on transit passengers. Lists of airlines that provide such information will be published on the site and other resources of the State Committee for Tourism. As a result of consultations with UTair, a provisional agreement was reached on the exchange of information on transit passengers.

The Committee urged foreign air carriers to provide the necessary information, which would provide convenience for passengers and increase tourists’ inflow, and also inform clients in advance whether or not it is possible to use a visa-free transit stay in Uzbekistan. In turn, passengers flying through Uzbekistan are asked to clarify the possibility of visa-free visits to Uzbekistan when planning a trip.

The receiving party may also, in advance, but no later than three days, provide an official invitation to a foreign citizen, on the basis of which he can obtain a visa directly from the consular department at the airport. The consular fee is 40 USD.