DUSHANBE, August 22, Asia-Plus -- Compared to January-June 2005 a number of foreign tourists that have visited Tajikistan over the first six months of this year doubled, Erkin Muqimov, the head of the tourism and stock-exchange activity department of the Ministry of Economy and Trade, has remarked in his interview with Asia-Plus. 

According to him,  14,612 tourists from Europe, Russia, America and Asia have visited Tajikistan in January-June 2005, which is equal to a number of foreign tourists that visited Tajikistan over the whole year of 2005.   

Mr. Muqimov says revenues made from the tourism industry last year amounted to more than 7million U.S. dollars.  “The data for this year are not clear, but one may says with confidence that they exceed the last year’s indices,” Erkin Muqimov said, adding that foreign tourists most are interested in active and extreme kind of tourism.  

“A number of those wanting to ascent the Ismoili Somoni Mount is increasing but not all tourists can afford this for health condition,” said Erkin Muqimov, “Besides, various resort places are becoming more and more popular among tourists.” 

According to the Asia-Plus interlocutor, the country’s sector has invested more than US$500,000 in improvement of Romit and Varzob gorges over the past several years.  

In the meantime, according to information from the Republican Administration for Health Resorts, to have rest in Tajikistan has risen by 30 percent in prices that has resulted from rising prices of fuel and food products in the country.  

For example, the price of place in the health resort “Hoji Obi Garm” (12 days) has risen fro 190 Somonis to 250 Somonis, in “Shohanbari”, “Uro Teppa”, “Khavotag”, and “Obi Garm” – from 150 to 190 Somonis.   

As far as mountaineering is concerned, the price of a helicopter rental has risen from US$1,502 per hour in last year to US$1,700 this year.   

According to information from the Ministry of Economy and Trade, a number of tourism operators functioning in Tajikistan has increased from 65 to 71 over the last three months.