Silk Road Special Page

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For information about countries and cities of Silk Road, click name of city and country hereunder:  

Important and relevant information about Silk Road are hereunder:

1- Silk Road Tourism Experts. Click here to read more.

2- An interview with TRI leader published by Ecoclub International indicates that TRI takes a great initiative when entire region is unstable. It hopes TRI will work for better understanding of tourism among people. Click here to read full interview at Ecoclub page.

3- Travel Talk Radio United States ran a Special Programme on The Region Initiative (TRI) on November 13, 2011. You can listen or download this programme to click here

4- The Region Initiative (TRI) held meeting of its Country Representatives in Tashkent on November 23, 2011. Click here to read complete details about this meeting

5- Kyrgyz Concept is a leading tourist company, which offers full business and tourist service for independent Kyrgyzstan and beyond. Its large, cordial, multi-lingual staff will provide complete, reliable services tailored to the needs and budgets of tourists and business associates alike. Click here to visit its English site.   Click here to visit Russian Website.

6-  The Region Initiative (TRI) hosted one-day Conference REGIONAL TOURISM PARTNERSHIP AMONG SOUTH ASIA, CENTRAL ASIA AND EASTERN EUROPE on November 22, 2011 at Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Click here to read complete details.

7- The Region Initiative (TRI) adopted Tashkent Declaration on November 22, 2011 at Tashkent Uzbekistan. The declaration stressed upon governments to provide financial support of small stakeholders for creating balance, otherwise it would become difficult for small stakeholders to get their share of tourism revenue and difficult for those who are trying to following the path of sustainable tourism. Click here to read complete Declaration here

8- Silk Road History and Tourism . Click here to read more

9- Silk Road Ecotourism Opportunities. Click here to read more.

10- Community Based Tourism in Silk Road. Click here to read more.

11- Nowadays the media has a huge influence on society. The media does not necessarily inform people, but actually forms their own opinion, and sometimes the media gives only a partial view of things which can then be misleading. Ignorance, lack of information and prejudices of media can sometimes create myths, and ones about Uzbekistan are not an exception. As a result of my experience of contact with foreigners, I have heard different points of view of how Uzbekistan is perceived by western society. Click here to read Myths and Realities – The Personal Viewpoint of Julia – A Young Girl from Uzbekistan

12- Mitan Ecotourism project near Samarkand, Uzbekistan is attracting world attention of ecotourism lovers. Click here to read more about this project at Travel Video TV.

13- Faces are not polluted by commercialization or a ruthless competitive world. They are faces of innocence and you will find them in a remote village of Samarkand - the jewel of the east. Click here to read more about Silk Road Destinations and its Ecotourism initiatives in a remote village of Uzbekistan.

14- Nazira is running the B&B in Bukhara Uzbekistan with her husband. She appears to be around 50 years old and does such a variety of tasks from buying stocks from the market to serving you at her huge Divan (a bigger sofa) underneath a tree in the courtyard of her house. Click here to read more about Ecotourism and small stakeholders of Uzbekistan.

15- Cultural Tourism is one of the largest and fastest-growing forms of global tourism, and Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries are leading in cultural tourism products, because the locals preserved their culture successfully despite the rule of the former Soviet Union. Credit also goes to this rule, because Russians played a pivotal role in restoring and preserving Muslim culture. Click here to read more about Cultural aspects of  Uzbekistan tourism.

16- Karaganda Regional Ecological Museum held an International Conference about Ecotourism in Kazakhstan. International conference information package. This document in Russian language is very important document to understand Ecotourism in Kazakhstan. Click here to read all papers submitted in this conference.

17- Interviews of World best Ecotourism Experts indicate how Ecotourism can be developed at strong footage in Central Asia. Click here to read these interviews.

18- UNWTO Takes Action to Save Tourism Industry in Pakistan.  News by Muhammad Asad, of eTN indicating that The Secretary General of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Taleb Rafai has written letters to the President of Pakistan, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, and Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousif Raza Gillani to ask them to stop the process of abolishing the Ministry of Tourism. The UNWTO action was taken place on an Appeal submitted by Ecotourism Society Pakistan and TRI. Click here to read more about this Appeal.

18- A Journey through Heaven Includes Pakistan. A n article written by Agha Iqrar Haroon (Former Consultant – Ministry of Tourism Government of Pakistan) who compares today with yesteryears regarding tourism in Pakistan and claims that 1979 Afghan War actually changed the whole region-- including tourism destinations of Pakistan. Click here to read complete article.
 

19- Pakistan has inherited a wide array of heritage sites, six of which have been inscribed on the list of “World Heritage Sites,” while a new tentative list has been prepared and submitted to the World Heritage Centre for approval. This article is a comprehensive guide to sites that are easy to visit, where there is no law and order problem for anybody. The list of all sites that are currently in troubled areas has not been added. Click here to read complete article.

20- A Travel Guide to The Northern Areas of Pakistan – Stunningly Beautiful and Safe to Travel – Part 2. Article written by Muhammad Asad informs that Northern areas of Pakistan are considered as paradise on earth among regular travelers. These areas are beyond the grip of ongoing terrorism. Terrorism in Pakistan is only on those areas where Pushtuns population lives or controls the areas. The situation is the same as it was in Sri Lanka where civil war or terrorism was confined to Tamil community areas or big cities where Tamils were visiting or living. The same situation is in Pakistan where terrorism is mostly in big cities and in Pushtun community areas. In this travel guide, tourists are informed about only those areas where no law and order situation has been indicated and these area are known as very friendly and peaceful areas. Click here to read more .

21- A Travel Guide to The Northern Areas of Pakistan – Stunningly Beautiful and Safe to Travel – Part 1. Article written by Muhammad Asad informs that Northern areas of Pakistan are considered as paradise on earth among regular travelers. These areas are beyond the grip of ongoing terrorism. Click here to read more

22- Disaster After Disaster Equals No Tourism Ministry for Pakistan. Article written by Muhammad Asad of  eTN indicating that Pakistan is a country that is facing its worst conditions ever regarding its tourism industry. First, it was the great tragedy of 9/11 that dented the tourism industry, and then in 2005, a horrific earthquake collapsed the total tourism infrastructure in Kaghan valley, and this was followed by the Taliban capturing the beautiful Swat Valley. These disasters were followed by year 2010 bringing the floods that wreaked havoc with the entire tourism sector. Now, there is no tourism ministry left in Pakistan, and no tourism ministry means no tourism department and no tourism minister. Click here to read more

23- In central Uzbekistan, south of Lake Aydar in the Nuratau Mountains a community based eco-tourism initiative was launched in 2007. In five of the lush green river valleys, in the villages Eski Forish, Asraf, Uhum, Upper Uhum, Hayat and Sentyab ten farmer families converted parts of their homes into rural homestays. Read more about this project to click here

24 - Tajikistan is nestled in the south-eastern part of Central Asia. In the West and North it borders with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, in the South with Afghanistan, and in the East, in the most mountainous area – with China. Its history is intertwined with that of the neighbouring countries of Central Asia and was connected through the ancient trading route of the Silk Road. Read more about Tajikistan at its official Tourism website to click here

25 - Uzbektourism” National Company was set up on July 27, 1992 by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Visit official website of this company to click here.

26 - Visit official website of Kazakhstan Tourism Ministry to click here

27 - The state Committee for tourism and sport of Turkmenistan - is formed by the decree of the President in 2000. Created on the basis of the State Tourist Corporation "Turkmensiyakhat" (established in 1994), the committee allowed to solve the problems related with development of tourism and sports of independent Turkmenistan. Click here to visit official website

28 - Since 2007, Central Asia has been supported by the EU Development Cooperation instrument with both national and regional programmes. This brochure interests those wanting to see how EU development funds are creating change in Central Asia at a very practical level. Click here to read English version of brochure.  Click here to read Russian version of brochure.

29 - Based on the needs of entrepreneurs Association of entrepreneurs and mountain farmers “Milal-Inter” together with the State Committee on investment and State property management under financial support of Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GbmH in June 16-17th had organized investment Forum Pamir Invest 2011. Click here for Final Report Forum

30 - Story of Silk Road . Click here to read more

31 - UNWTO Bokhara Declaration. Click here to read more

32 - UNDP Silk Road Regional Programe was launched in year 2005 for China, Kazakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan with an amount of 1 billion $. How far this program benefit these countries?, you check after reading what was program. Download complete project document to click here.

32 - Silk Road Research Papers. Many important papers about tourism and other research papers about Silk Road.  Click here to read more

33- The Region Initiative (TRI) and UNWTO Silk Road office held 2-days workshop on Tailoring e.tourism for Silk Road destinations on April 10-11, 2011 for capacity building of stakeholders of Samarkand Uzbekistan at Hotel Caravan Serai. Issues relating Communication skills development, dealing with No Show issue, Branding the product, Tourism Management. e.tourism development techniques, Website hosting, Tourism management during low seasons, development of festivals, International Networking and practical training of E.tourism including usage of different softwares of website development, hosting, movie making and Co-branding of products were discussed. Read full story to click here

34 - Tajik handicrafts are beautiful and different than other of Central Asian states. This organisation promotes Tajik handicraft. Click here to see how a man can create beauty with his hands.

35- UNWTO Silk Road Action Plan 2010. Click here to read more.

36 - Silk Road Investment Opportunities Report. Click here to read more

37 - Daniyar Kazakov is the President of C.A.T. Company of Kyrgyzstan and the President of The Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators is hopeful that his country will earn around 750 million $ as revenue receipts in year 2012. In an exclusive interview with The Region Initiative (TRI), he invites tourists to his country and maintains that Kyrgyzstan is situated in the middle of the Asian continent, among the mighty mountains of the Tian-Shan ridge and a worth place to visit. Read his complete interview to click here.

38 - Tourism Expert from Kyrgyzstan Damira Raeva has said that tourism revenue is increasing in her country but it needs political stability to bring the fruits. She gained extensive experience with development projects on poverty overcoming in Kyrgyzstan in particular, but also in other countries of Central Asia focusing on community based tourism development. Read her exclusive interview to click this link    Read her interview in Russian to click here.

39 - Alibakhsh Boimamdov, Chairman of the Milal-Inter Tajikistan  new travel company "SOTUS" (СОТУС), which is ready to receive tourists and looking for contacts both domestically and abroad. Read his interview in Russian to click here.

40 - Max Haberstroh, is an International Consultant on Sustainable Tourism who believes that Renewable Energy should be promoted and branded as the perfect energizer of Sustainable Tourism. He emphasis that Sustainable Tourism and Renewable Energy are complementary to each other and they position themselves as the world’s leading peace industries. Read is exclusive interview to click here

41 - The Travel World says that at a time when reports of social, economic, political and religious strife dominate the media, and the pain of people’s poverty, powerlessness, homelessness and hopelessness is felt all around the globe, any far-reaching initiative that promotes tolerance, interfaith harmony and shared opportunity really stands out, especially in the world of travel. The Region Initiative (TRI) talk about Peace and harmony. Click here to read full article of Travel World.

42- Love for a land other than the one where you was born is not a common phenomenon, but the history of writers is full of examples. In ancient times, Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta and Hsüan-tsang are popular for their love for the Silk Road and their devotion and love for Central Asia. Today’s example from Europe is Dagmar Schreiber from Germany. She came to Kazakhstan for the first time in the year 1994 and fell in love the country and its people. Since than she has resided here, and has become more like a Kazakh woman than one from Germany. Click to read her exclusive interview at Travel Video News.

43 - This The Ecotourism Handbook has been developed by VSO, an international development organization that works through volunteers. It was developed in Kazakhstan, based on work by a number of VSO volunteers in conjunction with a local organisations working in ecotourism and national parks. Download Ecotourism Handbook in Russian. Download Ecotourism Handbook in English.

44 -  There are some popular myths about Uzbekistan among Europeans. This is beautiful article dealing with this issue published by Tourism Review. Read complete article to click this link

45 - A French television interview of Silk Road Destinations staff member who talks about her country--- Uzbekistan. You can listen this French interview to click this link.

46 - Reference restructuring of The Region Initiative (TRI) approved during the TRI Tashkent November 23, 2011 meeting by its Country Representatives of South Asian, Eastern Europe and Central Asian, following administrative structure of TRI is placed and work:
TRI Board comprising of 7 persons, TRI International Core Group (ICG) comprising of 6 persons and TRI Business Core Group comprising of 5 persons will work to realise its goals.
TRI now works as bi-structural organisation. Its Conceptual Structure comprises of TRI Board and ICG while Operational Structure comprises of Business Core Group and its Members. Details can be read to click this link.
 

47 - Daniyar Kazakov is the President of C.A.T. Company of Kyrgyzstan and the President of The Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators is hopeful that his country will earn around 750 million $ as revenue receipts in year 2012. In an exclusive interview with The Region Initiative (TRI), he invites tourists to his country and maintains that Kyrgyzstan is situated in the middle of the Asian continent, among the mighty mountains of the Tian-Shan ridge and a worth place to visit. Read his complete interview to click here.

48 - Emil Umetaliev is an icon in the field of tourism in Kyrgyzstan and has been granted Presidential Award from the President of Kyrgyzstan this year. He is President of Kyrgyz Concept Company of Bishkek and also one of the members of International Core Group of The Region Initiative (TRI). Emil Umetaliev is of the view that first precedent of peaceful transition of power in the region, Kyrgyzstan has proved that the political situation is stable and opening of the Uzbekistan's border after 1.5 years of closure will reflect in a positive way on the number of tourists next year. He indicates that the non-visa regime, if it is approved by the Parliament, will boost Kyrgyzstan's chances. Read his exclusive interview to click here.

49 - Alibakhsh Boimamdov, Chairman of the Milal-Inter Tajikistan  has launched a new travel company "SOTUS" (ÑÎÒÓÑ), which is ready to receive tourists and looking for contacts both domestically and abroad. Read his interview in Russian to click here.

50 - Tourism Expert from Kyrgyzstan Damira Raeva has said that tourism revenue is increasing in her country but it needs political stability to bring the fruits. She gained extensive experience with development projects on poverty overcoming in Kyrgyzstan in particular, but also in other countries of Central Asia focusing on community based tourism development. Read her exclusive interview to click this link     Read her interview in Russian to click here.

51 - UNWTO Special Report on Silk Road Visa issue. Click here to read more.

UNWTO Silk Road Program Manager Alla Peressolova explains Program