Today's tourists are increasingly opting for alternative travel options, such as community-based ones. This is a fairly popular area of rural tourism in which the most important component is living in an environment that is as close as possible to the living conditions of ordinary people. To attract tourists in this sphere, the population of the regions must have the necessary skills to present travel services and tourism products. Moreover, at present, the number of tourists preferring recreation in rural areas has reached 15 percent of the total number of people who prefer tourism as a means of active recreation and gaining new knowledge.
The European Union project "Strengthening rural and ecotourism through business associations for sustainable economic development in Central Asia" is aimed at the full-scale implementation of this task. It is being implemented in four countries of the Central Asian region (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan). An overview of the activities and results of the EC Central Asia Invest program was discussed in detail at the conference "Rural tourism for sustainable economic development in Central Asia" held in Tashkent. It is successfully implemented by the Association of private tourism agencies of Uzbekistan. For the effective implementation of the project, a comprehensive plan has been developed, consisting of several important components: information and popularization (website, brochure, manual, participation in exhibitions), educational (training seminars) and a block for improving professional skills. This refers to the development of a classification system for guest houses, networking, participation in the development of legislative acts for this area.
Klaus Ehrlich, Secretary General of the European Federation of Rural Tourism, devoted his speech to the European policy of promoting rural tourism and the European market of rural tourism. Representatives of the rural tourism sector of Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, Poland spoke about the valuable experience gained in this direction in their speeches. The conference also discussed the interest of the Italian and German rural tourism markets in Uzbekistan and Central Asia.
Eduardas Stiprais, the Ambassador of the European Union to Uzbekistan, spoke about the special importance of this area for the sustainable economic development of countries that have embarked on the rails of a market economy, the opportunities available for this. The head of the Association of private tourism agencies of Uzbekistan Gulchekhra Israilova spoke about the complex of measures to increase the potential of family guest houses in Uzbekistan. Measures were also considered to strengthen the potential of ecotourism in our country, achievements in the field of rural and community tourism in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.
The ceremony of signing a memorandum between the associations of the European Union and Central Asia took place at the conference.
ILZE BERZINA, Member of the Board of the Latvian Rural Tourism Association.
- Such an interesting conversation is going on here. In many ways unexpected, about rural tourism. It turns out that he has very great prospects all over the world and here in Uzbekistan. What prompted you to come to Tashkent to participate in this conference?
- This is a very interesting and very important topic in modern business. Rural tourism is a very promising area of international tourism. Here I learned that you already have over 800 guest houses for those who come to you as a tourist in the countryside. This is a lot, you have done a lot of work to do it. And all this is happening within the framework of a project supported by the European Union in order to give some impetus to the development of this area. The Baltic countries have already passed this period and we can share our experience and say what and how to do for the effective and rapid development of the rural tourism sector.
This is what you need and we need. You have a wonderful culture and you have something to show and something to offer to taste. And we have already been working in rural tourism for 25 years, we have experience and we willingly share it with our Uzbek colleagues. In the village you can see how bread is baked, delicious national dishes are prepared, you can taste them, you can get acquainted with your national customs and traditions. Then these are additional jobs.