Tajik and Kyrgyz our operators consider that glaciers and mountain lakes, untouched nature and beauty of Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai mountain systems present a significant opportunity for development of ecological, sports and adventure tourism.
According to the data from the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism of Kyrgyzstan, some 3 million tourists visited the country last year and every foreign tourist left US$160 in the country. Last year, tourist expenditure reportedly totaled US$480 million.
According to information provided by the Tourism Development Committee under the Government of Tajikistan, 1.155 million foreign tourists visited the republic last year. In 2018, tourist expenditure reportedly totaled only 214.036 million somoni (equivalent to little more than 22 million U.S. dollars).
The third edition of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) tourism ministers that took place in the Tajik northern city of Khujand on October 3-4 has provided a platform for an open dialogue between tour operators of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Representatives of more than 30 tour operators from the two countries met on the sidelines of the meeting to discuss issues related to further expansion of collaboration between the tour operators, including organization of new tourist routes and simplification of the border crossing procedure for foreign tourists and conditions of their stay in the countries.
