03.05.2021-09.05.2021 No 305
NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN TURKESTAN’S TOURISM
The tourism potential of Turkestan is di- as Turkey abroad. Apart from that, there It should be noted that there are some rectly related to the traditions of the re- are bus services from Turkestan to many problems besides the potential mentioned gion. It is possible to explain it with the cities of Uzbekistan. These transportation above. Organized tours from other re- cultural and historical artifacts that the possibilities show that Turkestan’s tourist gions are of great importance for Turki- city of Turkestan located on the Silk potential does not have a serious problem stan, which develops on the basis of local Road. It is obvious that these traditional with road transportation. tourism. Various tours are organized es- values have a great influence on the tour- Secondly, nowadays the city of Turkestan pecially from Almaty and Shymkent cit- istic potential of the modern city. We can has some advantages in terms of develop- ies to Turkistan. The costs of these tours see Turkestan as the current preservation ment in the tourism sector. For instance, only include travel expenses, guide fees status of the historical city and the contin- the completion of the construction of and entrance fees to various historical and uation of the medieval style in today’s ar- many buildings specified in the master cultural places and facilities. Accommo- chitectural buildings. plan of the city, shows that new touristic dation and meals are covered by the tour- Turkestan has an important place in the destinations have emerged in Turkestan. ist. In fact, the main problem of local tour- development of tourism in the country in The “Keruen Saray” entertainment com- ists is the high cost of hotels. Because recent years. The preservation of medie- plex, the “Altın Samruk Theater”, “Sikirli tourists coming by road have to stay in val monuments in the city has determined Keruen Complex”, “Showroom Theater” Turkestan for 1-2 days. During this pe- the place of Turkestan in cultural tourism. and “Ethnoauil” are among the recently riod, local tourists do not have the oppor- However, in the context of the recent opened buildings. The opening of these tunity to stay in the above-mentioned global pandemic, the number of tourists facilities will contribute to the increase in multi-star hotels. This shows that tourists visiting the Turkestan region has de- the number of tourists. creased sharply. In 2020, 102,512 local Thirdly, considering the tourism potential face difficulties in accommodation. Due and 1,235 foreign in a total of 103,747 of Turkestan, tourism is developing pro- to the fact that some affordable hotels are tourists visited the Turkestan region. It is fessionally in this city. The construction located far from the center of Turkestan, known that the number of tourists de- of multi-star hotels in the city such as most individual tourists are forced to creased by 40.5% in 2020 compared to Rixos Turkistan, Karavansaray Kaganat choose city tours. 2019. Hotel, Karavansaray Kaganat Kun Hotel, As a result, the potential of the tourism Considering the possibilities of modern Hampton by Hilton Turkistan and sector in Turkestan is enlarging with the Turkestan’s touristic development, it has Khanaka may also be linked to the emer- relatively new places that attract the atten- several advantages. The first of these is gence of tourism infrastructure. Because tion of the tourists. Particularly, “Keruen that the location of the city of Turkestan these hotels provide quality and versatile Saray” and “Turkestan’s Venice” spark is suitable for all types of transport in Ka- service. This will allow foreign tourists to great interest among the tourists who visit zakhstan. For instance, the city has train choose the services and the most suitable the city. In addition to that Turkestan has connections by rail to cities such as Ak- hotel. In addition, the opening of the a special place in local tourism, including tobe, Oral, Mangıstau, Atyrau in the west Tourism and Hotel Management Univer- the development of ethno tourism, which of Kazakhstan, Semey in the east and sity in Turkestan will enable the city to is an example for many regions. Also, Nur-Sultan, Petropavlovsk and Kok- train experts and qualified personnel in new trends in post-pandemic tourism plan shetau in the north. The city also has rail the field of tourism in the future. to promote urban tourism. It is clear that links to Russia’s Chelyabinsk, Moscow, The last one is the effects of safe tourism, this will allow tourists to comply with Saratov and Ufa cities. In addition, pas- which is one of the habits caused by the sanitary norms and organize tours using senger transportation to Uzbekistan’s pandemic around the world, in the field of digital technologies. In this context, the Andijan, Tashkent and Kyrgyzstan’s tourism. One of them is to provide social tourism sector of Turkestan tries to attract Bishkek cities has been facilitated. In distance and security measures in touris- general, there are railway connections to tic facilities. Most of the modern touristic as many tourists as possible by announc- Turkestan with the cities of Shymkent, facilities in Turkestan consist of nature ing its opportunities through various tour- Kyzylorda, Taraz, Almaty in the south. complexes. The increase of different istic sites. In addition, the restriction of Bus and taxi services for cities in the parks makes tourists feel safe. In addition, the activities of various touristic facilities south of the country also have an im- the opening of police stations in the tour- (museums, art centers) due to the pan- portant place in this transportation net- istic complexes of the city, the installation demic constitutes the basis for the for- work. The Hazret Sultan International of various video surveillance cameras, mation of new non-traditional tourism ar- Airport, which has recently opened in SOS buttons, and the establishment of po- eas such as photo tourism, agricultural Turkestan, initiates domestic flights and lice units for tourists can be counted as tourism, eco-tourism in the Turkestan re- provides connections with countries such additional measures in terms of security. gion.
Written by Daulet Zhailybayev, Eurasian Research Institute, Kazakhstan
Politics, Foreign Affairs, and Security Economy, Finance, and Energy Society and Culture
The President of Turkmenistan Gurban- Authorities of Kazakhstan plan to increase A new 180-meter bridge will connect the guly Berdimuhamedov had a phone con- budget spending by $3 billion during the next town of Kokul in the Farkhor region of Tajik- versation with the President of China Xi three years. Consequently, the yearly budget istan with the village of Oikhonim in the Af- Jinping. The leaders discussed perspec- expenditures will increase to $35 billion. tives of bilateral cooperation and issues of ghan province of Tahor. This will be the sixth During 2 months of 2021, a share of social bridge connecting Tajikistan and Afghani- regional and international agenda. The assistance and security in the total budget leaders expressed satisfaction with the cur- stan. The decision was announced at a meet- equaled 25%. Expenditures on healthcare in- ing on cooperation and opportunities for re- rent high level of comprehensive coopera- creased by more than 70% compared to the tion. Beside the significance of the tradi- same period of 2020, amounting to over $1.1 gional economic development attended by tional oil and gas industries, the parties billion. Education expenses increased by representatives of Tajikistan, Afghanistan, noted the importance of collaboration in 7.3% or $1.1 billion. Analysts mention that Aga Khan Foundation and the European Un- the fields of trade, transport, textile and expenditures grew in almost all sectors ion (EU). The project will cost 16 million eu- chemical industries (Kabar, 07.05.2021). (Qazaq TV, 05.05.2021). ros and will be built with financial support Berik Uali, the Press Secretary of the Pres- During the Uzbek-Saudi intergovernmental from the EU (Avesta.tj, 07.05.2021). ident of Kazakhstan, recently announced commission, which was held on May 3, 2021 Uzbekistan has sent one million disposable that Kassym-Jomart Tokayev would pay in Riyadh, the Islamic Development Bank an- medical masks Ecos N95 as humanitarian aid an official visit to Tajikistan on May 19- nounced its readiness to support entrepre- to Turkey in accordance with the decree of 20 at the invitation of Tajik President neurship in Uzbekistan. A special Economic the government of the republic. A consign- Emomali Rahmon. Presidents will discuss Support Fund will be established for this pur- issues of strategic partnership, including ment of medical masks made in Uzbekistan pose. In 2021, the Saudi Development Fund was sent to Istanbul by a cargo plane of the further strengthening of political dialogue financed 10 projects in Uzbekistan worth and enhancement of trade and economic Uzbekistan Havo Yollari airline. In addition, $300 million. After the meeting, the govern- Uzbekistan delivered mobile oxygen concen- cooperation. The leaders will pay a special ments signed several important agreements in attention to the regional cooperation is- trators and medicines to India as humanitar- sues, in particular ensuring stability and the field of energy and agriculture, and the fi- ian aid due to a sharp increase in morbidity nal protocol on the main directions of the and mortality from coronavirus (Fer- security in Central Asia (Kazinform, long-term bilateral cooperation (UzReport, gana.agency, 03.05.2021). 04.05.2021). 06.05.2021). The President of Belarus Aleksandr In 2021, bilateral trade between Belarus and The President of Azerbaijani Ilham Aliyev Lukashenko had a phone conversation signed an order declaring the city of Shusha with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Uzbekistan demonstrate a significant pro- gress. In the first quarter of the year, trade the cultural capital of the country. The deci- Erdogan. The Presidents discussed issues sion was made with the aim of restoring the of comprehensive cooperation, confirmed volume amounted to $67.5 million and in- creased by 25.3% compared to the same pe- historical appearance of the city and renew- the earlier approved plans to increase bi- ing its cultural significance after the Arme- lateral trade to $1.5 billion, and agreed to riod of the previous year. Exports of Belarus assist in their implementation. President grew by 37.4% reaching $58.7 million, while nian occupation. President Aliyev also or- Erdogan extended Victory Day greetings imports from Uzbekistan surged by $8.8 mil- dered the construction of an international air- to Belarusian nation, while President lion or 79.2%. As a result, Belarus’ trade sur- port in the city of Fizuli in Karabakh, which Lukashenko extended Ramadan greetings plus equaled $49.8 million. Belarus’ main would help to develop tourism in Shusha to Turkey (BelTA, 07.05.2021). supply items include chilled and frozen beef, (Centralasia.media, 07.05.2021). medicines, polymers and tractors (BelTA, President of Russia Vladimir Putin discussed The President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japa- 07.05.2021). rov signed the new Constitution and the the issue of labor migration in Russia with his related Law "On the Constitution of the Recently, a delegation of Lithuania led by the Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon. Presi- Kyrgyz Republic". The signing ceremony country’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius dent Putin called the issue of migrants "sen- took place at the Ala-Archa state resi- Landsbergis visited Azerbaijan. During a sitive" for Tajikistan and stated that Russian dence. The referendum on the new Consti- meeting with the delegation, Azerbaijan’s authorities were doing everything to make Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov men- tution was held on April 11, 2021 and foreign people feel comfortable in Russia. tioned that the countries increased mutual more than 79% of the citizens who partic- Currently, more than a million people work ipated in the elections voted for the new trade turnover in 2020 and in the first quarter of 2021, despite the pandemic. The trade vol- illegally in Russia, of which about a quarter Constitution. In accordance with the new (247 thousand) are citizens of Tajikistan Constitution, the form of government in umes amounted to $24.4 million in 2020 and Kyrgyzstan has changed from parliamen- reached $7.6 million in the first quarter of (Rbc.ru, 08.09.2021). tary to presidential (Kabar, 05.05.2021). 2021. The countries have so far signed 39 Russian authorities approved the new single- Tashkent hosted a regular meeting of the documents and 12 more are under considera- dose version of the Sputnik V vaccine named Council of National Coordinators (SNC) tion (AzerNews, 04.05.2021). Sputnik Light in order to accelerate the pro- of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization The World Bank and the government of cess of achieving herd immunity against the (SCO) member states. The agenda of the Ukraine continue to strengthen bilateral co- coronavirus. Human trials of the Sputnik meeting included over 60 issues of the cur- operation. Recently, the bank approved a Light in Russia started in January, 2021 and rent activities of the organization. The na- $200 million project to support the country’s it has not yet passed through advanced testing tional coordinators reviewed the prepara- efforts to improve the quality and transpar- necessary to ensure its safety and effective- tions for the main event - the meeting of ency of the higher education system. In par- ness in line with established scientific proto- the Council of Heads of State of the SCO ticular, the project will finance moderniza- cols. Up to date, only 13.4 million people in Member States, to be held in September tion of teaching and research facilities and Russia, or just 9% of Russia’s population, 16-17, 2021 in Dushanbe. The member digital learning infrastructure of higher edu- had received at least one dose of a COVID- states’ representatives welcomed the cation institutions in line with European 19 vaccine (Apnews, 06.05.2021). adoption of the UN General Assembly res- standards in order to equip young Ukrainians olution put forward by Tajikistan entitled with the skills they need for the 21st century A recent survey conducted in Ukraine "UN Cooperation with the SCO" (Anadolu (Ukrinform, 06.05.2021). through computer-assisted telephone inter- Agency, 03.05.2021). A working group consisting of officials from views using a random selection of cell num- Kazakhstan and Turkey signed a plan in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China recently bers reveals that the incumbent Ukrainian Ankara for prospects of military coopera- conducted a videoconference, where they dis- President Volodymyr Zelensky holds the lead tion between the two countries. The docu- cussed perspectives of Uzbekistan – Kyrgyz- in the presidential rating. According to the ment includes 17 events in the field of re- stan – China railway construction. China’s survey, if the presidential elections were held gional security, training of special forces representatives presented a model for financ- in April 2021, 31.4% of the respondents and holding joint exercises. Exchange of ing the project and the action plan for 2021. would support the incumbent president. An- experience on the tactics of using recon- The parties mentioned the importance of other 18.1% would vote for the former Presi- naissance and attack unmanned vehicles finding a consensus in resolving the issue of dent Petro Poroshenko, the leader of the Eu- are also envisaged in the document. The financing and determining the routes of the ropean Solidarity Party, while 11.9% would sides also considered a plan for training railway. They agreed to conduct field re- support the leader of the Batkivshchyna military personnel in the 2022-2023 aca- search work after the stabilization of the epi- Party, Yulia Tymoshenko (Unian.info, demic year (Kazinform, 04.05.2021). demiological situation (Kabar, 04.05.2021). 05.05.2021).
Prepared by Zhengizkhan Zhanaltay and Kanat Makhanov