According to data from the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan, about 1 million foreign tourists visited Tajikistan last year year, which is 3.4 times more compared to 2021.
In 2020 and 2021, the number of foreign tourists visiting Tajikistan decreased 4.4 times due to coronavirus-related restrictions – from about 1.3 million in 2019 to 296,000 in 2021.
In all, 1.2 million foreign nationals visited Tajikistan in 2022 with different purposes (business trip, recreation and so on), which is 2.2 times more than in 2021.
About 97 percent of foreign nationals who visited Tajikistan last year reportedly came from two countries: Uzbekistan – 778,000 people; and Russia – 280,000 people.
Besides, a relatively large flow of foreigners was also recorded from Kazakhstan – 25,000 people, Turkiye – 7,300 people, the United States – 6,900 people, Iran – 4,300 people, China – 5,400 people, Kyrgyzstan – 3,800 people, India – 3,400 people, and Afghanistan – 3,300 people.
Meanwhile, the number of citizens who left Tajikistan last year was more than 2.2 million people, which is 2.1 times more compared to 2021.
The Agency for Statistics says 235 tour operators now operate in Tajikistan.
183 hotels now operate in the country, including six 5-star hotels, twenty 4-star hotels, sixteen 3-star hotels, three 2-star hotels, as well as two first class hotels and 136 zero degree hotels.
Besides, 29 hostels and motels, 51santoriums, six children’s sanatoriums and camps, seven health resorts, eight rest houses, one camping and five tourist centers now operate in the country.
Tourism is considered one of the sectors, which are hoped to promote further development of the national economy. However, tourism receipts-to-GDP ratio remains very low. Due to the coronavirus pandemic this ratio fell in 2019 to 0.3 percent, and in 2021, it rose 1.3 percent.
As it had been reported earlier, each tourist leaves approximately 500 U.S. dollars in Tajikistan, but the Tourism Development Committee top manages note that it is impossible to tell the exact figure now.
According to them, they are currently together with the World Tourism Organization are conducting a survey of local and foreign tourists.
It is to be noted that the tourism industry is an economic sector among those most severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Tajikistan’s rich cultural heritage, hospitality and abundance of mountain snow peaks, rivers, lakes and recreational opportunities contribute to the development of country’s tourism industry. In 2018, Tajik Government announced a year of tourism development. The tourism sector is considered a priority for the development of Tajikistan’s economy. At the same time, undeveloped infrastructure and low levels of quality of services delay the growth of the tourism industry.