11.2.1 Public access to buildings. Provide public access to buildings and/or monuments or natural heritage landscapes of cultural significance

Ancient and ever-popular Samarkand cannot be described. In order to get a complete picture of the prominent city, it is necessary to visit this place. It is not for nothing that this old city is recognized as one of the 50 must-see cities in the world.

During the visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Samarkand region in April last year, a number of instructions were given to create favorable conditions for the wide familiarization of tourists with unique objects of historical, cultural and architectural heritage, the revival of pilgrimage tourism, and, in general, further develop the tourism potential of the ancient land. Based on this, some work is currently being carried out. In particular, specific measures were identified for the implementation of pilgrimage tourism in the Samarkand region.

The presence of 1,105 archaeological, 670 architectural, 37 sights, 18 monumental, 21 memorial objects out of a total of 1,851 objects of material and cultural heritage in the region shows how high the opportunities are in this regard. Mausoleum of Amir Temur, Registan Ensemble (Sherdor, Tillakori, Mirzo Ulugbek Madrasahs), Bibikhanim and Khazrati Khyzr Mosques, Shakhi Zinda Monument, Khoja Daniyor Tomb, Mirzo Ulugbek Observatory, Nadir Devonbegi Complex in Samarkand Region, Khoja Ahrori Vali Mosque, Gavsul Azam, the shrines of Khoja Aman, Chor Chinor in the Urgut region, the complex of Imam Al Bukhari in the Payarik region, the shrines of Khazrati Davud in the Nurabad region provide services to tourists and pilgrims.

Also, new routes include museums of the history of Uzbekistan, Afrosiab, local history museums, the city of Dobusia in the Pakhtachi region, the historical monument of Chelak-Koktepa in the Payarik region, the tomb of Makhdumi Azam and other shrines. A number of measures are being taken to further expand the activities of museums in Samarkand region, strengthen their cooperation with museums in foreign countries, including in the field of scientific research. In this regard, contacts have been established with specialists from archaeological institutes and museums in Japan, France and South Korea.

In particular, while the murals in the "Ambassadors' Room" of the Afrosiab Museum are gradually being restored to their original state, a 3D track showing the ancient view of the city of Sogdiana (ancient Marokand or Afrosiab), located on the ancient Afrosiab hill, is being shown to tourists.

Samarkand State United Historical-Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve and the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan are preparing brochures and booklets with historical sources and information about the cultural and historical monuments of Samarkand.

In addition, more than 120 cultural workers work in 37 sights, 18 monumental places in the region and provide guests with detailed information about historical sites.

During the season, more than 100 hotels serve domestic and foreign tourists daily, and more than 30 restaurants in the city center and neighboring areas prepare national, Korean, Russian and European dishes, organize entertainment events. The presence of guests in these places is protected by the commission for further improvement of the procedure for organizing and holding mass events under the administration of the region, strengthening measures to ensure public order and public safety during their conduct.

Taking into account the large flow of pilgrims and tourists in the city of Samarkand during the tourist season, the joint-stock company "Uzbekistan Railways" and the national airline company "Uzbekistan Airways" made proposals for the organization of additional flights.  In addition, tourist information centers have been set up at the city's international airport on the basis of a light structure center project. Everyone can get acquainted with maps with tourist sites and various handouts that reflect the tourism potential of our country.

According to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, adopted in order to further expand the potential of tourism and increase the number of additional infrastructure facilities for foreign tourists and residents of the region to relax, 14 new hotels worth 26 billion 150 million soums will be built in 2017-2018. Of these, 6 new hotels will be built in Samarkand city, 2 each in Samarkand and Urgut districts, and one new hotel each in Jomboy, Nurabad, Bulung'ur, and Koshrabot districts. In general, by 2021, 40 new hotels will be built in the region.