Tourism

Tourism Sector

Tajikistan possesses significant tourism potential. The country’s colorful and captivating nature forms the foundation of this potential, while its ancient and rich history, vibrant culture, beautiful festivals, and other national elements double Tajikistan’s attractiveness as a tourist destination.

Tajikistan is home to the world's largest glacier, the Vanch (Fedchenko) Glacier; one of the most beautiful and high-altitude lakes in the world, Lake Sarez; the world's tallest man-made dam, the Nurek Dam (listed in the Guinness Book of Records); the second tallest flagpole in the world (also listed in the Guinness Book of Records); the largest hydroelectric power station in Central Asia, the Nurek HPP; and the Rogun HPP, which, after its completion, will become the largest hydroelectric plant in the region and the tallest dam in the world. There are also dozens of other famous and fascinating sites that attract foreign tourists.

Currently, 14 natural and cultural sites in Tajikistan are included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and 12 national crafts and traditions are listed as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, demonstrating the country's rich history and colorful, beautiful nature.

Tajikistan’s inclusion among the ten most attractive countries (2012), the Pamir Highway’s inclusion among the ten most beautiful roads in the world (2016), Tajikistan’s listing among the top ten countries for trekking and adventure tourism (2014), and its inclusion among the top five countries with the most simplified visa system (2018) all testify to the international recognition of Tajikistan’s tourism industry.

For the past three years, Tajikistan has been ranked among the top three safest countries in the world, according to the annual rankings published by the American Gallup Institute.

The country is also considered highly attractive from a tourism market perspective, as it lies along the Silk Road and borders China, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, while being close to other regional countries such as India, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey. The population of these countries exceeds 3 billion people — more than 35 percent of the world’s population.

Analysis shows that the number of tourists from these countries is increasing annually, and considering Tajikistan's tourism potential and affordable travel costs, the country could become an excellent destination for them.

Statistics on foreign tourist arrivals also show that Tajikistan is becoming increasingly popular among international tourists. Over the past five years, the average number of foreign tourists visiting Tajikistan reached 1,100.94 thousand annually, with a growth rate of 17.8 percent per year.

The Government of Tajikistan has given special attention to this important sector by declaring 2018 as the “Year of Tourism and Folk Crafts Development” and 2019–2021 as the “Years of Village, Tourism, and Folk Crafts Development,” initiatives that have given new momentum to this critical industry.

In this regard, the government has undertaken several initiatives to attract investment into the tourism sector and develop its infrastructure by providing tax and customs incentives and guaranteeing the rights and protection of investors.

Tajikistan is at an early stage of developing its tourism infrastructure. The rapid increase in tourist numbers and sector development necessitate the creation of more hotels and resorts, restaurants and canteens, airports and roads, shops and kiosks selling local products, and other essential infrastructure and services in this important sector.

Currently, the country has six five-star hotels, thirteen four-star hotels, 241 small and medium-sized hotels, four international airports, more than 54 picturesque resorts and recreational facilities, 70 museums, 26 theaters, and other facilities serving tourists — clearly insufficient given the rapid development of the sector.

Therefore, attracting foreign investment into the tourism sector in Tajikistan is considered highly appealing, and investors can contribute to the following areas:

• Reconstruction of transport infrastructure: attracting investments for the repair and construction of roads, modernization of airports, and border crossings;
• Creation of an automated tourist registration system ("e-guest"): attracting investments in the implementation of modern technologies to simplify the tourist registration process and data collection;
• Development of accommodation infrastructure: attracting investments for the construction of hotels, restaurants, and cultural institutions that meet international standards;
• Creation of clusters in key tourist zones: attracting investments to develop ski, entertainment, and cultural clusters to promote local entrepreneurship;
• Organization of events: hosting forums, symposia, and sports competitions to raise awareness of Tajikistan as a tourist destination;
• Formation of sector-specific investment projects: developing specialized clusters for eco-tourism, health and wellness tourism, historical and cultural tourism, mountain tourism, hunting, and fishing.