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Uzbekistan Opens to Travelers With a $3,000 COVID-19 Guarantee
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Uzbekistan is so confident they have fought the battle over COVID-19, they are offering $3,000 to any tourist who contracts the virus while on vacation in the country – with a few caveats.
According to Business Insider, Uzbekistan reported just 19 coronavirus-related deaths thanks to its swift lockdown and, in an effort to lure tourists back to the country, have launched a “Safe Travel Guarantee” campaign.
“We want to reassure tourists they can come to Uzbekistan,” Sophie Ibbotson, Uzbekistan’s tourism ambassador to the UK, said in a statement reported by Business Insider. “The government is so confident that the new safety and hygiene measures being implemented across the tourism sector will protect tourists from COVID-19 that the president is prepared to put money where his mouth is: If you get COVID-19 on holiday in Uzbekistan, we will compensate you.”
Business Insider reports the $3,000 is the estimated cost of medical care to treat the coronavirus in the country.
The country is now open to tourists coming from low-risk countries like China, South Korea, Japan and Israel. However, tourists coming from the UK and Europe will have to quarantine for 14 days.
The “Safe Travel Guarantee” campaign does come with a few caveats, according to Business Insider:
Tourists must explore the country with a local tour guide in order to receive the $3,000 if they get infected with the coronavirus while traveling in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Additionally, “local tour guides, accommodations, and tourist sites will be required to receive a certification from the government that shows they are following safety and sanitary guidelines.”
