On Sunday morning, National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who is on a working visit to the Balkan region, began the day with a traditional walk and workout in the Avaza National Tourist Zone. The TV report of the Turkmen news service not only showed the National Leader’s unwavering commitment to a healthy lifestyle, but also demonstrated the magnificence of Avaza, which is preparing to host a global event – the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov took a walk and a bike ride in Avaza, and also worked out in a multifunctional sports complex. This is a long-standing tradition of the National Leader of the Turkmen people – to start each working day with physical exercises.

Let us add that these exercises are not just a set of physically active actions, but a carefully selected set of loads that help maintain fitness and high productivity in daily work.

The Turkmen leader has spoken about this more than once, answering questions from foreign journalists during interviews.

Most of the TV report was taken up by shots of the beautiful Avaza, which the National Leader sincerely admired...

It is truly beautiful. Moreover, at any time of the year. Moreover, Avaza - is the brainchild of the National Leader.

There are at least two large periods in the history of Avaza. The first is in the past, before 2007. And the second is after 2007, and is still ongoing.

The history “before” is the dominance of “unauthorized construction” on the seashore. With rare exceptions – dilapidated shacks, or even just so-called construction trailers.

But the “history after” is already a brilliant Avaza, which has nothing in common with the past.

In this regard, I recall 2007, when a landmark summit was held in Avaza with the participation of the presidents of Turkmenistan, Russia and Kazakhstan. During that meeting, the head of Turkmenistan put forward an initiative to create a modern international tourist center in Avaza.

And then this proposal received the full support of the summit participants. From that moment, the newest history of Avaza begins.

Then, most likely, few people realized that this idea, coming to life in a practical plane, would be embodied not only in magnificent hotels and health resorts, but would also influence the development of the entire western region of the country...

And so, six months later, in early December 2007, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held an important meeting in Avaza dedicated to the development of the future National Tourist Zone.

In addition to Turkmen officials, the meeting was attended by the heads of a number of foreign companies. After a thorough discussion, a presentation of several promising projects for the development and improvement of Avaza took place.

The main focus was on the creation of a modern tourist center, which should include comfortable hotels and resort complexes, entertainment centers and tourist infrastructure facilities, sports and health complexes, zones for ecological tourism and active recreation, transport arteries and logistics centers.

The meeting discussed the details of the project implementation, including issues of attracting investment, using modern technologies in construction and creating favorable conditions for vacationers.

Everything was taken into account, including special attention to preserving the unique nature of the region and the harmonious inclusion of new facilities into the existing natural landscape.

That meeting on an incredibly frosty day (the winter of 2007 was abnormally cold) not only outlined the strategic direction in creating a modern tourist center on the Caspian coast, but also opened a new stage in the history of the entire western region of the country.

It was planned that the new recreation and entertainment center, called the National Tourist Zone, would become an important link in the system of international tourist routes, combining the best features of the natural and climatic conditions and infrastructural capabilities of Turkmenistan.

At that time, there was no global financial and economic crisis yet (its first signs were just beginning to appear) and tourism was one of the most developed industries in the world. What the bigwigs of the world tourism industry did not offer. Some centers offered expensive comfortable vacations, others - health resort services, others - were intended for extreme sports enthusiasts, others - sports-oriented, etc., etc.

The concept of Avaza development included all of this together! It was developed taking into account the principle of multifunctionality, which allowed the creation of a unique center capable of satisfying the needs of a wide variety of tourist categories.

The main directions of development of the Avaza National Tourist Zone included:

1. Family tourism with its comfortable hotels and resort complexes with appropriate rooms and amenities, entertainment centers and parks for children and adults.

2. Sports tourism with a developed infrastructure for practicing various sports, with modern sports complexes and sites for active recreation, organizing competitions and sports events.

3. Medical tourism, which offers a number of medical centers with the most modern equipment and qualified personnel for those wishing to improve their health.

4. Ecotourism with the sea, desert and mountains within walking distance. What else do ecology lovers need? After all, in Avaza they will be offered to live in eco-cottages, routes for exploring the natural wealth of the region, and participate in various events aimed at environmental education.

5. Extreme tourism – for lovers of adrenaline and super active recreation, you can use the same rocky mountains, hot desert and raging sea during storms.

6. Cultural and educational tourism – its services include acquaintance with the rich history of the Turkmen people, their traditions, original culture, heritage and art, etc., etc.

The main highlight of the Avaza Concept was its multifunctionality. It envisaged the creation of a balanced and diverse infrastructure capable of attracting tourists with different interests and preferences, providing a high level of service and diverse recreational opportunities.

But despite such a wide range of categories of vacationers, each of them, regardless of preferences and living conditions, is strongly influenced by one and the same factor!

This is the beneficial effect of Avaza's natural and climatic features on human health.

And this happens due to an amazing combination of such factors as the climate (mild, favorable for strengthening health, without sudden changes in temperature), sea air (saturated with iodine and bromine ions has a beneficial effect on the thyroid gland, improves the respiratory system) and sea water (swimming in the sea and in pools with sea water, as well as aqua massage with mineral water, have a healing effect on the entire human body).

To this we can add specialized procedures - cryotherapy (treatment with cold), halotherapy (treatment in artificial salt caves), infrared therapy (helps remove toxins and cleanse the body), paraffin and ozokerite therapy (improves blood circulation and metabolic processes), etc.

All these factors together create unique conditions for health improvement. Therefore, the resort procedures in Avaza are aimed not only at treating specific diseases, but also at strengthening the immune system, general rejuvenation of the body and increasing vitality.

However, to say that Avaza is a place for rest and entertainment means to greatly limit its role in the state and public life of the country.

Prominent politicians, famous government and public figures have spoken here at international forums, music festivals and sports competitions have been held with the participation of world-famous artists and famous athletes. And this emphasizes the importance of Avaza as an international center for holding major forums, conferences and cultural events, contributing to its development as an economic center.

Very soon Avaza will host one of the most significant forums — the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries. It was on the eve of this event that the National Leader held a meeting of the Organizing State Committee to ensure full readiness.

Avaza also played a key role in the development of the region's transport infrastructure, provided hundreds of thousands of jobs and became an example of the successful implementation of social programs. The once treeless region is now buried in greenery thanks to the systematic planting of trees and the creation of parks.

Indeed, Avaza is beautiful at any time of the year, embodying a strategic vision and efforts to create a modern, multifunctional and environmentally friendly center of global significance.

ORIENT