DUSHANBE , July 21, Asia-Plus - Abdulvohid Karimov, Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection and Forestry told a news conference in Dushanbe on July 21 that development of eco tourism is one of the most important issues of economic development of Tajikistan .  

According to him,  certain work has been done in this direction so far.  “For example, for the purpose of attracting more foreign tourists to Tajikistan the “Saydu-Sayohat” (tourism) State Unitary Enterprise has prepared brochures on 15 tourism routes across the republic,” Mr. Karimov said.   

Speaking to journalists, Mr. Kokul Kasirov, Director General of the Unit for Especially Protection Natural Territories and National Parks, said Tajikistan offered tourists trips to the Fan Mountains in northern Tajikistan Gorno Badakhshan.  “The are many those interested but quite high air fares scare them away,” Kokul Kasirov said.  

“We have to date received 700 tourists, while all in all, we are able to receive 2,000 tourists during the season,” said he, “mainly, people from Canada and European countries show interest in making tourism tour of Tajikistan; prices of places on tour of Tajikistan fluctuates from US$300 to US$1,200.” 

There are three unique natural reserves (Romit, Tigrovaya Balka and Dashti Joum), 14 game reserves, two national parks (Shirkent and Pamir ), as well as 162 unique natural objects in Tajikistan .  A total area of the natural reserves and national parks is 16,158 square meters or 11.2 percent of Tajikistan ’s territory, according to Kasirov.