In recent years, astronomical tourism is becoming increasingly popular – travelers are looking for places with the clearest night sky to observe the incredible beauty of constellations and galaxies.

Uzbekistan is one of the few countries in the world where it is possible to make such an incredible and unforgettable journey through the galaxy.

The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan together with Kashkadarya Regional Hokimiyat and Uzbekistan Journalists Union organized a press tour to Kashkadarya region, in particular, to Kitab Latitude Station.

To further develop Kashkadarya region’s tourism potential in 2019, the Cabinet of Ministers approved an action plan for the creation of new tourist destinations. Ethno-, eco-, agro-, extreme and gastronomic tourism are being developed in the region.

In the coming years, the territory of the Kitab Latitude Station will become one of the few places where you can make fascinating astronomical tours. The observatory, built in Kitab about a century ago, has been opened these days so that tourists could observe and study planets and some stars. One of the five latitude stations in the world is located at the most convenient latitude for observing celestial bodies. Kitab district is the only place in Uzbekistan that crosses the international parallel on the geographical map (39 degrees 8 minutes). This place, located on the side of the Hissar Mountain Ranges, is extremely favorable for observing the starry sky, rare and unusual celestial phenomena. The sky here remains clean and clear for more than 2000 hours a year.

At the initiative of the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Heritage of Kitab, two tourism zones-  an astropark and a geopark, are being organized. In the future, tourists visiting these parks will be able to travel above and below ground. There is also a special 3D cinema where you can watch movies and videos about astronomy.

Media representatives watched a documentary about our Galaxy made by American scientists in the museum’s 3D cinema and learned a lot about the planets.

To provide additional services to tourists, important tasks have been identified for installing additional telescopes for observing the stars, creating conditions for organizing special tents for tourists, opening a special museum and selling various publications about astronomy and observatories, jewelry and textile products under the brand “Walking with Stars at latitude 39.08” with images of the astronomical complexes Maydanak and Kitab.

It is also planned to regularly publish information about the observatory along with photos and videos on social networks and tourism portals, collect, study and publish information about the observatory in brochures, booklets, collections and photo albums, and present them to tour operators, at exhibitions and forums.

The new direction of tourism in Uzbekistan will be interesting to everyone.

 Sharofiddin Tulaganov, UzA