UIET held the international conference «Basic directions and possibilities of development of tourism in Turkmenistan»
The online international conference «Basic directions and possibilities of development of tourism in Turkmenistan» took place on Wednesday with participation of heads and experts of the sector, profile companies and associations from many countries.
The Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, which focused the dialogue on the role of business and innovations in advancement of tourist potential of the country, qualified personnel maintenance of this sphere, acted as an organizer of the forum.
The tourist segment of economy of Turkmenistan has been completely transferred to the private sector in 2019, and in this time, according to Kerim Akmammedov, a member of the office of UIET who spoke at the forum, tens of companies which in view of objective complexities of the past time were concentrated to inbound tourism which obtained a big impulse, were created.
But the country has all possibilities for development of inbound tourism which is going to meet removal of restrictions on the international trips all over the world and to come out to the new level.
In due time, thanks to decisions of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the development of the sector, a modern network of objects of modern industry of hospitality and sanatorium and recreation was created. Today in Turkmenistan about 100 first class hotels, including private ones function, as Akmammedov noted.
In this aspect, the conference also considered key issues on restoration and increase in stream of tourists in the country, and also in the field of promotion of potential of historical, cultural, and ecological tourism in Turkmenistan.
In particular, deputy director of the department of tourism of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan Gulshat Bakieva drew the attention of foreign tour operators to the fact that in the country there are more than two thousand unique architectural monuments, including those which have been included in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage – park complexes of Ancient Merv, Koneurgench and Nisa.
Travellers from all around the world are attracted by such exotic natural sights, as karstic caves of the Koyten dag and underground lake Kov-ata, the Plateau of dinosaurs and desert of Kara Kum. Huge recreational resources are available at subtropical valleys of the Sumbar, salty lake Mollakara, mountain gorges and summits of the Kopet Dagh, the coast of Caspian Sea with Avaza resort. And this list can be continued, but the main thing is not the list, and it is in the fact that all is necessary to be popularised extensively and in a modern format at the world level.
There are also little-known natural sights, but deserving separate attention. This theme was touched upon by executive secretary of the National Commission for UNESCO of Turkmenistan Chynar Rustemova in her speech, having cited as an example volcanoes in Balkan region where almost half of all mud volcanoes of the world are located. Unlike magmatic volcanoes, they are almost safe for the travellers who admire exclusive impressions. That there is at least such unique phenomenon as «nomadic volcano» - before it could be seen in the sea, now it is on the surface of land.
The National Commission for UNESCO of Turkmenistan plans to conduct joint work with national committee «Person and biosphere» to include mud volcanoes of the eastern coast of the Caspian sea in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List as the most interesting volcanic area of the world. In the opinion of Rustemova, it will open new possibilities for study and preservation of this unique landscape and geological formation. Its nomination file on inclusion of ecosystems of the Koyten dag in this list where traces of dinosaurs left 150 million years ago remained, is also underway. Thereupon work on accomplishment of this beauty spot is planned.
In general, development of tourist infrastructure, preparation of professional guides-guidebooks, scientific working out of corresponding programs and projects were named by Chynar Rustemova as a priority on development of such perspective and attractive direction, as ecotourism. Beautiful nature is a good condition, but there is more many serious and a tough job ahead to include eco-routes in Turkmenistan into the top world destinations, she noted.
Modern tourists are interested not only in tourist objects, but also in places of stay, service level, convenient logistics, and also safety of stay, in this plan Turkmenistan definitely has a number of advantages.
Among speakers of the conference was also head of the Austrian-Turkmen society, Doctor Neda Berger, who joined discussions online from Vienna. She shared the vision of prospects of cultural tourism in Turkmenistan, having distinguished such brands, which cause a heightened interest of Europeans, as famous Akhal teke horses and Turkmen carpets, and also silk-keteni fabrics using special demand of all foreigners who comes to Turkmenistan.
Separately Berger developed upon such symbol of traditions of the Turkmen people - as eastern market, which simply captivates tourists from Europe. It is a surprising alloy of the past and the present, mentality and economy, dialogue and trade, cosmopolitan polyphony and national colour.
Besides historical and cultural sights of the country about which today they talked in detail enough, Neda Berger touched upon such direction of tourism in Turkmenistan as Ashkhabad admiring with its architectural beauty and magnificent museums with rich collections.
The opinions on development of relations with Turkmen colleagues were stated at the forum by heads of travel agencies of Japan, Canada, China, and Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and other countries.
Analysts of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) also joined discussion and Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), expressed interest in activization of direct relations with Turkmenistan and the organisations of joint projects.
ORIENT news
