DUSHANBE, June 8, Asia-Plus – Imposition of value added tax (VAT) on enterprises dealing with organization of holiday and tourism in Tajikistan has led to increase of prices of places in the country’s health and holiday resorts, Asia-Plus has learned from Razzoq Rasoulov, the deputy head of the republican resort management council of Tajikistan’s Trade Unions.
According to him, their enterprises had previously been exempted from paying VAT. Besides, rates of other taxes as well as communal services” payments have also increased, Rasoulov said.
Thus, the prices of a 12-day place in the Khoja Obigarm resort has risen from 253 somonis to 403 somonis and in the Uro Teppa resort from 190 somonis to 233 somonis.
“The price of a 12-day place in Shohambari now is 300 somonis and in Zumrad – 275 somonis,” Rasoulov said.
According to the State Unitary Enterprise Sayoh (Tourism), prices of places in resorts located at the Qairoqqum reservoir, also known as Tajik Sea, have risen as well. The source at Sayoh said that the price of a place in the holiday resort “Qairoqqum” had risen from 288 somonis in 2006 to 360 somonis this year.
In the meantime, the Sayoh deputy director Bakhtiyor Hamdamov said that every year, a number of Tajik nationals who want to take rest at the country’s holiday resorts is increasing by 30 percent. Besides, the number of foreign tourists wanting to visit Tajikistan is increasing as well. According to him Tajikistan is attractive for mountain climbers as well as nature and cultural tourists.
“Last year, more than 30,000 foreign tourists visited Tajikistan,” Hamdamov.
In the meantime, only 3,000 foreign tourists have visited Tajikistan over the first quarter of 2007, according to the Committee on Youth, Sports and Tourism.
At present some 82 tour companies operate in Tajikistan, and 16 others are still waiting for getting license, the source at the youth, sports and tourism committee said.
Although Tajikistan has world-class mountains and a lot to see for cultural tourists, it is still not so attractive for foreign tourists.
Tourism could make considerable contribution to the country’s GDP and generate its foreign incomes. Local experts say that Tajikistan ought to make it easy for mountain climbers, as well as nature and cultural tourists to choose Tajikistan. According to them, government’s resolution of March 31, 2006 easing visa requirements for citizens of 68 countries will promote development of tourism and relevant industries in the country. We will recall that the resolution allows citizens of those countries to obtain 45-day visas within three days.
