Tourism in TajikistanAS SEEN BY TOUR OPERATORS

DUSHANBE, OCTOBER 16, 2019

Tour operators survey - respondents

Tour operators surveyed (2018)

21

10

14

IncumbentDomesticOperators

IncumbentInternational

Operators

Operators notOffering Tours in

Tajikistan

1

Source: 2018 Tour operators survey, team analysis

41%

20%

18%

19%

2%

Europe

North America

China and Australia

Asia - other than China

Africa

International tourists coming with operators – country of origin

Tourists’ region of origin

2

Source: 2018 Tour operators survey, team analysis

Tourism volumes – sharp increase in 2018

3

Change in tourist arrivals over the past 2 years for all incumbent operators

Source: 2018 Tour operators survey, team analysis

Tajikistan is yet to reach its tourism potential …

Whether Tajikistan has reached its tourism potential (incumbent tour operators)

Interest of international tour operators not yet offering tours to Tajikistan

4

Source: 2018 Tour operators survey, team analysis

… and country promotion contributed to increase in volumes

Reasons behind recent increase in tourism arrival for international tour operators

Reasons why international operators are not offering tours to Tajikistan

5

Source: 2018 Tour operators survey, team analysis

… Tajikistan can do better in terms of tourism spending

TJ packages price $800

Out of pocket spending $200

1,000

3,000

Tourists in Tajikistan International average foradventure tourists

Tourist Expenditure per 8-day Trip (US$)

6

* For Tajikistan, median instead of average is usedSource: 2018 Tour operators survey, UNWTO, team analysis

Tourism services - how well does Tajikistan do?

7

Transportation

Hospitality

Tourism Offerings

• Site conditions and

attractiveness

• Tour guides and

other supporting

services

• Quality of homestays

and hotels

• Food quality, safety

and preservation

• Domestic and

international flights

• Visa and boarder

crossing procedures

Rating: 1 (extremely dissatisfied) - 5 (very satisfied)

Domestic Operators International Operators

3.3

3.5

3.5

2.3

2.5

2.5

Source: 2018 Tour operators survey, team analysis

Offerings (1/2) – Attractive sites, infrastructure lacking

8

Average satisfaction rating of site attractiveness

Transportation

Hospitality

Tourism Offerings

Source: 2018 Tour operators survey, team analysis

Offerings (2/2) – Good services

9

Average satisfaction rating of tour operators

Transportation

Hospitality

Tourism Offerings

Source: 2018 Tour operators survey, team analysis

Hospitality (1/3) – Convenient homestays, difficult to book and lacking sanitation

10

Satisfaction rating of homestays

Transportation

Hospitality

Tourism Offerings

Source: 2018 Tour operators survey, team analysis

Hospitality (2/3) – Good hotels, requiring more capacity, better booking … and sanitation

11

Satisfaction rating of hotels

Transportation

Hospitality

Tourism Offerings

Source: 2018 Tour operators survey, team analysis

Hospitality (3/3) – Restaurants, a missed opportunity to generate local revenues

Characteristics of food that should improve so that tourists spend more in restaurants.

12

Transportation

Hospitality

Tourism Offerings

Source: 2018 Tour operators survey, team analysis

In-bound transport: issues with both land and air connectivity

Satisfaction rating of transportation into Tajikistan

13

Transportation

Hospitality

Tourism Offerings

Source: 2018 Tour operators survey, team analysis

In-country transport: lack of road signage and air connectivity

Satisfaction rating of transportation within Tajikistan

14

Transportation

Hospitality

Tourism Offerings

Source: 2018 Tour operators survey, team analysis

15

12%

37%

38%

40%

40%

42%

45%

47%

54%

61%

62%

65%

69%

Other

Improve quality of souvenirs and handicrafts

Simplify border-crossing

Enhance safety and security

Improve access to utilities (water, sewage and electricity)

Reduce seasonality

Improve transportation infrastructure

Create skills for tourism sector specialists

Simplify regulatory environment

Preserve and upgrade sites

Increase domestic and international (air) connectivity

Improve and target hospitality

Brand and promote the country

Share of operators stating that Tajikistan should implement to reach its (adventure) tourism potential

Source: 2018 Tour operators survey, team analysis

Five actions with the highest perceived importance

The actions require coordination and a mix of policy and investment interventions

16

Public Sector

Private Sector

InvestmentPolicy

• Brand and promote the country

• Improve domestic and int’l (air) connectivity

• Simplify regulatory environment

• Preserve and upgrade tourism sites

• Improve and target hospitality

Support from Rural Economy Development Project (REDP)

17

REDP on Tourism Sector

Component 1 includes:• Investment in historical and

cultural sites and signages.• Grants for community-

based tourism infrastructure and sites.

Component 2 includes: • Matching grants to

tourism-related MSMEs to improve services and offerings

Component 3 includes: • Capacity building and

business development services in tourism and related sectors.

Brand and promote the country

Preserve and upgrade tourism sites

Improve and target hospitality

18

Sites to be rehabilitated as part of REDP