04.02.2019-10.02.2019 • No: 197 7

POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING CULTURAL TOURISM IN REGION ’s tourism industry ranked 81st Ugam national park, which covers an area of and northwestern parts of the Turkistan re- out of 136 countries in the World Economic 150,000 hectares. The ancient cities of gion, and the southwestern part of the Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitive- and Sauran, and the mausoleums of Arystan Zhambyl region. The cluster “Moderniza- ness Index 2017. This indicates that the Bab, Khoja Ahmed Yasawi and Domalak tion of the Great Silk Road” will be gradu- country’s rank has moved up from the 85th Ana are the main objects of cultural tourism. ally expanded and described as “the heart of position in 2015. If we compare it with the In addition, in 2018, 27 museums of various the Silk Road”. The cluster is also expected rankings of other post-Soviet countries, we types were registered in the Turkistan re- to contribute to the development of the tour- can see that is ranked 43rd, Georgia is gion. It is worth noting that the region’s mu- ism industry in the settlements along the 70th, Azerbaijan is 71st, and Kyrgyzstan is seums are the most visited museums in Ka- Western Europe-Western China transport 115th. Step 57 of the “Plan of the Nation – zakhstan. In 2018, 1,967,700 people visited corridor. This, in its turn, will increase the 100 concrete steps to implement the five in- museums of the region. competitiveness of the city of Turkistan stitutional reforms” set out by President The tourism funding programs in the region through the development of the tourism and Nursultan Nazarbayev envisaged the attrac- vary from year to year. For example, cul- service industry and the use of information tion of strategic (anchor) investors, who tural monuments in Turkistan were included and communication technologies. The main have successful experience in creating tour- in the State Program “The revival of the his- driving force of these programs is the Law ist clusters. torical centers of the Silk Road, the preser- of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Tourist The development of vation and successive development of the Activity”. Article 8, paragraph 3 of the Law is in full swing. In particular, cultural tour- cultural heritage of the Turkic-speaking contains the principle of “forming the per- ism has a special place. For instance, ac- countries” in 2011. In 2016, the general plan ception on the Republic of Kazakhstan as a cording to the 2018 index of the world tour- and development prospects of the city were country favorable for tourism”. Based on ist agencies, 4,560,000 people visited Ka- considered within the framework of the this principle, ethno-tourism centers in the zakhstan, with tourism services contributing “Old City of Turkistan” project. The follow- country are identified and appropriate to 5.3% of the total GDP. According to the ing data can be seen in the 2018-2020 measures are being taken. Concept of the Development of the Tourism budget investment project of the Turkistan According to the local administration of Industry until 2025, this figure is expected region (before relocating the regional cen- Turkistan, 1,542,000 tourists visited Turki- to increase up to 8%. The inclusion of Ka- ter). In 2018, 120 million tenge was pro- stan in January-September 2018. 332,000 of zakhstan’s two natural and three architec- vided for the three-year period for the con- them are tourists from near and far abroad. tural objects in the UNESCO World Herit- struction of tourist infrastructure on the This shows that the number of tourists has age List shows that in the world statistical shore of the water reservoir. With increased by 5.6% compared to 2017. More- indicators Kazakhstan is favorable for the regard to the investment project after trans- over, the volume of services rendered to development of cultural tourism. Tourism in ferring the regional center to the city of Tur- tourists was 3,936,000 tenge and made 4.9% Kazakhstan is based on cultural tourism or kistan, the project has been revised and new of the city’s GDP. The leading position of ethno-tourism, which is the result of the plans have been introduced. For example, the city in cultural tourism is due to the fact preservation of the ancient nomadic civiliza- under the 2019-2021 investment project, in that the adjacent cultural centers belong to tion and the urban culture along the Silk 2019, 433 million tenge will be allocated the Otrar oasis. Meanwhile, there are plans Road. The fact that the natural and architec- from the regional budget for design esti- for 2019 related to the development of tour- tural monuments in Kazakhstan have been mates, while 3 billion tenge in 2020 and 6.9 ism in the Turkistan region, such as the Tu- preserved until nowadays is directly related billion tenge in 2021 will be spent on con- lip Path international festival organized by to the ethnic culture of the people. In this re- struction projects. Most of these funds are the Kazakh Tourism national company. As gard, the “Sacred Kazakhstan” project for intended to contribute to the region’s pros- part of the festival, approximately 5,000 studying all sacred sites and monuments on perity and the development of tourism. For guests are expected to visit the Turkistan re- the territory of Kazakhstan was launched in example, under the project, it is planned to gion, including about 1,000 foreign tourists. 2017. In general, the project is aimed at construct more than 10 large cultural com- The main purpose of the event is to intro- identifying objects of cultural tourism in our plexes in the city of Turkistan, including the duce the Aksu-Zhabagly and Sairam-Ugam country. The Turkistan region is the center Museum of Fine Arts of Turkistan, the nature parks in the Turkistan region and to of cultural and architectural monuments of Country of the Great Steppe Center, the promote the development of tourism in the Kazakhstan. There are 99 archeological Opera and Ballet Theater, the Center of the region. In addition, the international bus monuments near the city of Turkistan, Turkic World, the Kultobe Open Air Mu- route Turkistan- is planned to be which shows the deep cultural layer of the seum, the City Amphitheater, cultural and launched in the first quarter of 2019, which ancient cities in the region. recreational facilities within the Azret Sul- will contribute to the development of the re- The latest periods of Turkistan’s ancient cul- tan Historical and Cultural Reserve, and the gion’s economy and tourism. It should be ture are directly linked to the Kazakh Khan- Museum of Local History of the Turkistan noted that the Silk Visa project initiated by ate as the pantheon of Kazakh khans and Region. Most of these sites to be constructed Kazakhstan and would give an biys (judges) was formed there (Kazakh are aimed at developing cultural tourism. additional impetus to the development of people believe that visiting Turkistan is The Turkistan region will allocate 1.5 mil- cultural tourism in the Turkistan region this equivalent to a small hajj). These cultural lion tenge annually for tourist objects which year. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan intend to objects in the city require conducting ar- are included in TOP-10 of the State Program join the project in the future. chaeological and ethnographic research. for the Development of the Tourism Indus- In general, cultural tourism has a special In the Turkistan region, there are many state try in the Republic of Kazakhstan until place in the tourist cluster of the Turkistan protected objects, which are currently being 2025. In addition, the special cluster “Mod- region. Its potential will be fully developed adapted for the development of cultural ernization of the Great Silk Road” in the in the future. Obviously, this will serve not tourism. For example, the region’s Aksu- southern is consid- only for Kazakhstan’s tourist industry, but Zhabagly nature reserve, which was created ered in the Concept of the Tourism Industry also as an economic and cultural platform in 1926, is the first and oldest nature reserve Development in Kazakhstan until 2025. The for all Central Asia. It will also have a posi- in Kazakhstan, and its total area is 131,934 cluster includes the central and eastern parts tive impact on the social structure of the re- hectares. The list also includes the - of the , the southwestern gion’s population. Written by Daulet Zhailybayev Eurasian Research Institute, Kazakhstan

Politics, Foreign Affairs, and Security Economy, Finance, and Energy Society and Culture  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey  Food exports of Belarus to European lated to the future of humanity, includ- Lavrov conducted a two-day trip to countries in 2018 amounted to $233.5 ing the development of artificial intelli- Central Asia, visiting Kyrgyzstan, Ta- million, growing by 66.6% compared to gence and new dimensions of globaliza- jikistan and Turkmenistan. During his 2017. Lithuania, Poland, Germany and tion. meetings with the regional leaders and Norway remain the main consumers of  In 2014-2018, the Ukrainian Red Cross officials, Lavrov reportedly focused on Belarusian food products, while trade Society provided over 1 billion hryvnia regional security issues, including a with Republic of North Macedonia, (37.25 million dollar) in humanitarian possible opening of a second Russian Montenegro, Serbia and Switzerland assistance to the vulnerable groups of military base in Kyrgyzstan, as well as has expanded. The government plans to the population, including the victims of on prospects of economic, trade and en- increase the number of Belarusian en- the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. ergy cooperation. terprises certified to export goods to Eu- The society’s main priority activity di-  Uzbekistan and the EU held the first ropean markets. rections for 2019-2021 will be emer- round of negotiations on the Enhanced  The volume of money transfers from gency response, volunteer movement Partnership and Cooperation Agree- other countries to Kazakhstan in 2018 development, mobile medical brigades, ment in . The parties reached amounted to 362 billion tenge (958.5 first aid training, psychosocial support, an understanding on the structure of the million dollar), which is 18.2%, or 55.9 patronage service, as well as support for draft agreement, which is expected to (148,02 million dollar) billion tenge, low-income households. cover such areas as political dialogue more than in 2017. Half of the funds re-  President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and reforms, the rule of law, justice, ceived from abroad where 181.3 billion issued edicts establishing the Center for freedom and security, human rights, tenge (480 million dollar) were sent the Analysis of International Relations anti-corruption, migration, and trade, as from Russia, which is followed by and the Center for Social Research. The well as economic and sustainable devel- South Korea with 56.8 billion tenge first institution will be tasked with stud- opment. (150,4 million dollar) and Kyrgyzstan ying foreign policy directions of im-  The delegation of Uzbekistan led by with 30.3 billion tenge (80,23 million portance to the country’s national inter- Deputy Prime Minister Tanzila Narba- dollar). ests, while the second entity will study yeva visited the United States to attend  President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mir- important issues of domestic politics. the annual meeting of the Cotton Cam- ziyoyev issued edicts establishing sev-  The fifth meeting of the Turkic Council paign global coalition and gold meet- eral new government agencies – the Diaspora Contact Group was held in ings with U.S. officials. The parties dis- Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Baku to promote the exchange of expe- cussed issues related to the protection of Transport, and the Agency for Develop- rience among the government agencies human rights, as well as practical ment of Viticulture and Wine Produc- of the Turkic speaking countries respon- measures taken in Uzbekistan to eradi- tion under the Ministry of Agriculture. sible for diaspora issues. The meeting cate forced labor, promote interaction In addition, the president approved the was organized jointly by the Turkic with civil society institutions, and en- Concept for the Development of the Council and Azerbaijan’s State Com- sure media freedom. Atomic Energy Industry for 2019-2029. mittee on Work with Diaspora.  During his working visit to Turkmeni-  President Mirziyoyev instructed Uzbek-  As part of the Year of Uzbekistan in Ka- stan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, Special istan’s Central Bank to establish a sepa- zakhstan, the Uzbek Embassy in Astana Representative of the UN Secretary rate Development Bank with a capital of organized the exhibition called “Con- General for Afghanistan and Head of $500 million. The new bank will be temporary Uzbekistan” that features the UN Assistance Mission in Afghani- tasked with developing a comprehen- 100 photographs and 39 paintings of stan, met with Turkmen Foreign Minis- sive export support system that will em- Uzbek authors at the National Museum try officials. The parties discussed on- ploy aggressive models of financial and of Kazakhstan. In its turn, the museum going efforts to peacefully resolve the technical support, including pre-export plans to visit Uzbekistan with the exhi- Afghan conflict, as well as possibilities lending, post-credit services, export bition “Procession of the Golden Man in to involve Afghanistan in regional eco- subsidies, and logistics. the Museums of the World”. nomic projects.  The government of Tajikistan identified  The Center of the Turkish Language  SCO Secretary General Vladimir Norov seven promising economic sectors to at- and Culture opened at the Alisher Navoi paid his first visit to Kyrgyzstan, which tract foreign investment – hydropower, Tashkent State University of the Uzbek serves as the SCO chair for 2019. Dur- agriculture and agro-processing, the Language and Literature. The main goal ing his meetings with high-ranking Kyr- mining and chemical industries, the of the center established with the sup- gyz officials, including President light industry, transport, the financial port of the Turkish Embassy in Uzbeki- Sooronbay Jeenbekov, Norov addressed sector, and tourism. To create a favora- stan is to promote the development of issues related to cooperation among the ble business environment, the Tajik leg- relations between universities and sci- organization’s members and the SCO islation provides for more than 70 in- entists of the two countries. summit to be held in Bishkek in June vestment incentives, including fiscal,  During the 11th round of bilateral politi- 2019. such as tax benefits, and non-fiscal, cal consultations held in Tashkent, Uz-  President of Kyrgyzstan Jeenbekov paid such as grants and concessional loans. bekistan requested Georgia to grant the a one-day working visit to Sochi for an  According to the Ministry of Transport “fifth freedom of air” to its airlines. The informal meeting with his Russian and Infrastructure of Turkey, in 2018, fifth freedom is the right to carry pas- counterpart Vladimir Putin. The two the total volume of cargo transshipment sengers from an airline’s own country to leaders exchanged views on a number from Kazakhstan (28,800 tons), Turk- a second country and from that country of regional issues and discussed in de- menistan (97,200 tons) and Uzbekistan to a third country. This year, Uzbekistan tail the current state of bilateral cooper- (18,300) through Turkish ports Airways plans to open a direct flight ation, including preparations for Putin’s amounted to 144,300 tons. All cargo from Tashkent to Tbilisi. upcoming state visit to Kyrgyzstan. transshipment from Central Asia was  According to the Turkish Ministry of  Ukraine’s Central Election Commission carried out by ships sailing under flags Culture and Tourism, in 2018, 1.35 mil- concluded the official registration of of other countries. lion tourists from Central Asia visited candidates to run in the presidential  The 22nd Eurasian Economic Summit Turkey, including 426,900 from Ka- election scheduled for March 31, 2019. organized by the Marmara Group Stra- zakhstan, which is 5.98% more than in The final list includes a record-breaking tegic and Social Research Foundation 2017, the increasing trend also seen in total of 44 candidates approved out of was held in Istanbul. The two-day event numbers of the following countries more than 80 applicants. According to that brought together active and former 252,900 from Turkmenistan (9.54%), recent polls, incumbent President Petro high-ranking officials, parliamentari- 241,200 from Uzbekistan (23.24%), and Poroshenko, former Prime Minister ans, representatives of international or- 114,900 from Kyrgyzstan (9.55%). Tur- Yulia Tymoshenko and comedian Vo- ganizations, and public figures from key’s last-year income from tourism in- lodymyr Zelenskiy are the likely front- nearly 40 countries addressed issues re- creased by 12.3% and amounted to runners. $29.5 billion.

Prepared by Dauren Aben and Kanat Makhanov