Destination: Tajikistan

FOREWORD

This report is the result of a fact finding mission undertaken in a pilot phase of cooperation between
the Tourism Development Center (TDC) of Open Society Institute Tajikistan and the private Austrian
based consulting company FALCH.

The aim of the mission was to explore the potential of cooperation between these two partners in the
field of integrated regional and tourism development in Tajikistan, to assess the current status of the
tourism sector in Tajikistan and to render direct technical assistance to TDC on it´s future role in sector
development.

This get-in-touch visit revealed a complex series of different levels of cooperation on which a fruitful
partnership can be built up in future.
So based on two weeks intensive personal contacts, discussions and field visits throughout Tajikistan
this program proposal was elaborated between TDC and FALCH as recommendation for future action.

The following information sources were explored for this report:

Fact finding mission of Andreas Falch (21 August – 4 September 2004)
Meetings and contacts:
- Open Society Institute Tajikistan, Dushanbe (Mrs Zuhra Halimova, Executive Director,
Mr Umed Yatimov, Economic and Business Development, Program Coordinator, Mrs
Zarrina Kadirova, Coordinator Tourism Development Center)
- Government of Sugd Region (Deputy Head, Jabarov Khojievich)
-
- Tajik State University of Commerce (Rector Dr. Fakerov Nuriddinovich)
- University of Central Asia (Dr Safdar Rajabekov, Head of School of Continuing Education,
Khorog)
- Representatives of Tajikintour
- Representative of Pamir Silk Tour
- Project Representative of Inter-Assist (Project Manager Khorog)
- Project Representative of Mountains Societies Development Support Program, Khorog
- Project Representative of Agha Khan Development Network
- Representative of Sayo
- Representatives of local government administration as well as private tourism sector in all
visited regions in the course of round tables organised by Open Society Institute

Sites visited:
Dushanbe, Warzab, Hisar, Nurek, Kurgan-Tjube /Shahrtuz (44 hot springs), Baljuwan,
Khodjent, Qayraggum, Shahristan-Istravshan, Takab, Khorog and Pamir region.

Desk studies and secondary data collection from international travel guide books, sector
relevant literature

FALCH
Andreas Falch,
Landeck, 20 September 2004