Ecotourism in Tajikistan

1
Eco-tourism in Tajikistan

• Key challenges and opportunities
• ACTED Central Asia
• Presentation for the Principals Meeting
• Dushanbe, 6 July 2006

2
Introduction

• Definition of eco-tourism
• Key components of eco-tourism
• Contribute to conservation of bio-diversity and
  require lowest possible consumption of
  non-renewable resources (ecology)
• Identify and protect cultural heritage and
  promote exchange between hosts and visitors
  (culture)
• Stresses local participation, ownership and
  business opportunities for rural population to
  increase their livelihoods (economy)
• Handicraft promotion as essential part of the
  strategy

Ecotourism is environmentally responsible
travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed
natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate
nature and any accompanying cultural features,
with low negative visitor impact, and provides
for beneficially active socio-economic
involvement of local populations.
3
ACTEDs current eco-tourism programme

• Birth of the eco-tourism programme
• Started in 1999 in Murghab rayon, GBAO, as
  alternative economic strategy for population
  dependent on cattle breeding
• SDC-funded Pamir High Mountains Integrated
  Programme (PHIP)
• Based on an analysis of potential of rich natural
  and cultural resources in the area
• Touristic potential that should be tapped
  carefully to preserve natural and cultural
  heritage
• Founding of Murghab Eco-Tourism Association
  (META) key achievements
• META created in 2002 as service provider
• Community-based tourism training of guides (5)
  and homestay providers (35)
• Publication of a map of the Eastern Pamirs
• Number of services rendered to tourists increased
  exponentially from 25 services in 2003 to 601 in
  2005, with profit of META members increasing
  tenfold
• Financial sustainability expected in mid-2008.

4
Constraints on development of eco-tourism in
Tajikistan

• Lack of capacity to receive tourists
• Inadequate infrastructure and difficult access
  due to isolation of the region
• Limited know-how by service providers
• Lack of networks and outside connections
• Regulations and taxation
• Many unclear and changing fees and taxes
• Strict regulation of tourist movement in Murghab
  rayon
• Visas and GBAO permits
• Lack of eco-tourism quality label
• Environmental degradation and disappearance of
  cultural heritage
• Desertification (teresken consumption)
• Wildlife reduction (poaching)
• Disappearance of traditions and cultural sites

5
Plans for enlarging the eco-tourism programme

• Regional strategy
• Include Dushanbe (Bactria Centre) and Rasht
  Valley (Gharm and Jirgital)
• Set up nationwide eco-tourism network, including
  Resource and Support Centre
• Link Tajikistan with southern Kyrgyzstan and
  northern Afghanistan
• Institutional integration
• Build partnerships with government (workshops and
  national conference in Nov 2006)
• Increase partnerships with commercial tourism
  providers
• Lobby (local) government to decrease restrictions
  and include eco-tourism in NDS
• Expand support to handicraft
• Assessment of handicraft production chain
• The Yak House as successful model

6
Partners and contact details

• Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development
  (ACTED)
• 15, Rajabov Street 43, Frunze Street
• Dushanbe Murghab
• 996-312-219289 882-165-0601513
• Bob Deen Christophe Belperron Julie Desage
• Deputy Regional Coordinator Murghab Area
  Coordinator Eco-Tourism Coordinator
• Bob.deen_at_acted.org Christophe.belperron_at_acted.org
  julie.desage_at_acted.org
• ACTEDs eco-tourism activities are financed by
• Open Society SDC UNESCO
  The Christensen Japanese
• Institute Fund Government