DUSHANBE, May 23, Asia-Plus  -- Preparation of a concept of development of tourism designed for the period until 2013 is nearing completion and it will be submitted for consideration to the government soon, Lochin Fayzulloyev, the deputy head of the Committee for Youth, Sports and Tourism Affairs, remarked at a ceremony of presentation of the tourism guide-book “Welcome to Tajikistan” in Dushanbe on May 22.   

According to him, the committee has granted 130 licenses for tourist activity so far.  “Thus, only 20 tourist firms operated in the country last year,” the deputy head said.  

He reminded that Tajikistan last year joined the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) that will promote further development of tourism and relevant industries in the country. 

              In 2007, more than 320,000 foreign citizens visited Tajikistan; tourists constituted only 3 percent of them.  “Use of intellectual and technical potentials of the UNWTO will help Tajikistan develop its tourism industry and implementation of the tourism development concept will help to turn the country into Mecca for tourists,” Fayzulloyev said.