Traveling Along the Cities of the Native Land

 

…It is lively and busy in the lobby of the Registan Hotel. Tourists stand in queue to check in. A little farther, a respected woman around 70 is bombarded with boundless questions by her little grandson. 

 

“Granny, when are we going to visit the Registan Square? To the one that is depicted in my books… Are we going to take photos of ourselves there?”

 

“We’ll go there for sure. We’ll look around everything. And will take photos.”

I decided to sit down beside the woman with the grandson. 

 

“We are from Bukhara,” Zainab-momo introduced herself. “We, the grannies and grandpas from our mahalla, decided to go with our grandchildren to one of the most beautiful cities of our country. Later, we plan to travel to Khiva, as well. We would like to visit and have leisure in Zaamin and Tashkent.”

 

Indeed, each region of our country is attractive in its own way with its individual traditions, inimitable historical monuments and picturesque nature. Thanks to the growth in incomes of population and improvement in the tourist infrastructure, the internal tourism has been advancing in our country. Traveling around the nation, recreation in the foot of the nature is becoming a good tradition.

 

In the realization of tourist opportunities of the country, an important role is played by the development of internal tourism. After all, the international practice has confirmed the effectiveness in the arousing the interest to the new tour product primarily among the domestic travelers, and then among those from abroad. For instance, 90 percent of the population of Spain, a leader of the world tour industry, travels around the home country.

 

A special significance is attached to the advancement of tourism under the leadership of President Islam Karimov, along with all other spheres. Services in transportation and public services are being perfected. Tourists are offered modern conveniences, new tour routes. Quality services are provided to them by international and local airports, the contemporary railway and automobile transport, and more than nine hundred travel agencies. 

 

In accordance with the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan on measures to further support and advance the tourism sphere in Uzbekistan, signed 10 October 2012, the tour infrastructure has been consistently progressing, while national tour services are enjoying the growing demand in international tourism markets. 

 

“Domestic tourism is an important factor in the development of economy and growth in the wellbeing of the population,” Farrukh Rizaev, chairman of the Uzbektourism National Company, says. “In order to further this end, wide-ranging efforts are underway to uplift and propagate the tour opportunities of the regions of our country, to refine the activities of resorts and tourist organizations. Building on the peculiarities and internal opportunities of each province, targeted programs are being implemented. For instance, eco-tourism, geo-tourism, off-road travels are being promoted in areas with the least number of historical monuments, while such extreme tour services as alpinism and rafting are being developed in mountainous zones. As of today, a range of yurta hotels, camping areas, recreation and health improvement zones have been created in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, in Navoi, Jizzakh and Khorezm regions, and opportunities to make use of diverse services are there for tourists.”

 

There is little need to expound much on the tourism potential of Samarkand. This ancient land is renowned across the globe with its exceptional architectural monuments and shrines. In independence years, the city has transformed cardinally. On the initiative of the head of our state, wide-scale construction and restoration works have been carried out at the Registan Complex, in Amir Temur and Ruhobod mausoleums, Shahi-Zinda, the mosques Hazrati Hizr and Bibikhanum, the Mirzo Ulugbek Observatory. Gardens and alleys have been laid out in areas adjacent to them. The sacred shrines of Imam Bukhari, Imam Moturidi have been beautified. These monuments, the wealth of not only our people, but also of the entire humanity, were included in 2001 in the UNESCO World Heritage List. 

 

More than a hundred travel firms and around a hundred hotels operate currently in Samarkand. Every year, thousands of our fellow compatriots visit with their help these memorial complexes, have their leisure time with interest, recreate and take rest. 

 

The cultural and historical monuments of Bukhara are visited every year by thousands of Uzbekistan residents. Discount excursions and tours are arranged for team travels of organizations and education institutions. That is important in the direct familiarization of our compatriots, especially the youths, with the history and cultural heritage of Bukhara and the colossal creative endeavors undertaken here during independence years. 

 

In accordance with the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the program of complex measures to build and reconstruct the city of Shahrisabz in Kashkadarya Region, signed 20 February this year, extensive constructive and beautification works have been launched here. With an aim to turn Shahrisabz into a center of modern tourism, tremendous efforts are underway to construct and reconstruct the existing facilities and imrpve the transport infrastructure.

 

In the Republic of Karakalpakstan, travels are organized within three dimensions – projects entitled “Historical-Cultural Tourism”, “Eco-tourism” and “Walking Tourism”. These routes encompass such ancient monuments as Tuprakkala, Ayozkala, Mizdakkhon-kala, Chilpik, Ustyurt Plateau, protected zones on the lake Sudochye and along the banks of the Amudarya. In order to boost the attraction of tourists to the Aral Region, new tracks as fishing and duck hunting are organized in natural water ponds. 

 

Another ‘business card’ of Karakalpakstan is the Savitsky State Museum of Arts in the city of Nukus. The museum stores around ninety thousand rare and valuable exhibits, and is one of the leaders in the world among celebrated museums as the Louvre, the Hermitage, as well as Dresden and Tretyakov galleries. 

 

In line with the resolution of the head of our state on the program of development of tourism in Khorezm Region in 2013-2015, extensive construction and repair works are in progress in the oasis. In particular, further beautification works have been complete at the facilities of Bogishamol, Eshon Ravot in Khiva District. About ten facilities of cultural heritage have been reconstructed, including the complexes Nurlaboi, Bogishamol, the madrassahs Otajon Tura, Chodira Hovli, Muzkhona, along with the local history museum and the puppet theater. 

 

During the previous system, the Surkhandarya Region used to be considered a closed zone. The unique historical monuments located in the province were left unattended. During the independence years, broad and smooth roads have been laid here; modern hotels and services facilities have been built. Historical monuments have been restored and shrines of our great ancestors been beautified. The Sulton Saodat Complex, the mausoleums Iso Termizi, Hakim Termizi, Sufi Olloyor have today become revered sites for our fellow citizens. 

 

According to officials of the State Committee for Nature Protection of Uzbekistan, eco-tourism infrastructure has been created at the eco-center Jairon in Bukhara Region, the nature protection zones of Bostanlik District of Tashkent Region, Muynak District of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Zaamin District of Jizzakh Region. Especially immense is the potential of environmental tourism of the Zaamin District rich for the diversity of flora and fauna. 

 

Important role in the development of tourism industry of our country is played by small business and private entrepreneurship. They are active and enthusiastic in the elaboration of new tour routes, creation of historical and architectural parks, and provision of modern services to tourists. As a result, numerous new jobs are created; the wellbeing of the people has been rising. 

 

Uzbekistan is a country with a rich history and the unique nature. Our picturesque recreation areas can compete with renowned resorts of the world. The peace and harmony reigning in our nation, the magnanimity and hospitality inherent in the Uzbek people will keep opening up enormous opportunities for the advancement of tourism. 

 

UzA, Nodira Manzurova