Uzbekistan to Pay Tourists if They Contract the Coronavirus

With countries currently trying to revive their tourism industries, Uzbekistan has come up with a very innovative solution that might pique the interest of travellers. Their newly-launched &ldquoSafe Travel Guaranteed&rdquo campaign provides $3,000 to anyone who gets the coronavirus while travelling in the country. 

That's quite a change from some other countries where you have to pay a 'coronavirus deposit'.  

In an official announcement last week, Uzbekistan's tourism ambassador Sophie Ibbotson said that 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."

This campaign comes with a catch though. To receive the money, you will have to explore the country with a local tour guide. Furthermore, the guides, accommodation and tourist sites you visit must have received a certification from the government. 

You will have to check whether you are living in a low-risk country or not, as people from high-risk countries (like the UK and Europe) will have to go through a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

While countries like Uzbekistan, Italy and Japan have taken measures inclined towards attracting tourists, some countries like Cambodia have taken quite a different road. They want travellers to their country to make a hefty deposit in case they get the coronavirus. The deposit covers everything from treatment to possible funeral costs. Not quite a pleasant thought while going on a holiday, but then such are the times we live in.