DUSHANBE, June 18, 2014, Asia-Plus — Members of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament have proposed to develop ethno tourism in the country.
Parliamentarian hearings over implementation of the national tourism development program designed for 2010-2014 were held on June 18.
Speaking at the meeting, MP Muhiddin Kabiri proposed to develop ethno tourism in Tajikistan. “Various languages, cultures and traditions have continued in Tajikistan to this day,” said Kabiri. “There ought to think of cultural value of Pamiri and Yaghnob languages.”
He noted that there were ancient Yaghnob houses in the Ayni district and he suggested that the Ministry of Culture should preserve them.
Parliamentarians Mahmadsharif Nozimov and Shodi Shabdolov supported his proposal.
Kabiri noted that stability, good service and low prices attract tourists’ attention. “For example, tourist flow to Kyrgyzstan is more intensive than to Tajikistan though mountains and infrastructure in Kyrgyzstan do not differ from those in Tajikistan and the situation in Tajikistan is more calm than in Kyrgyzstan but our neighbors offer better service and lower prices,” Kabiri said. “Thus, a ticket for the flight Istanbul-Bishkek-Istanbul costs 450 U.S. dollars, while a ticket for the flight Istanbul-Dushanbe-Istanbul costs 1,200 U.S. dollars.”
According to Rustam Abdullozoda, Chairman of the Committee for Youth, Sports and Tourism Affairs, more than 245,000 foreign tourists visited Tajikistan in 2012, while last year, 208,000 foreign tourists visited the country and over the first three months of this year, 24,000 foreign tourists have visited Tajikistan.
