Shakhrisabz, Kitab, Yakkabag and Qamashi districts of Kashkadarya region have significant potential for developing ecotourism. During a visit to Kashkadarya region on October 24-25, 2023, the Head of state instructed to organize the Shakhrisabz Tourist Center and the Maydanak High-Mountain Tourist Center in Shakhrisabz district to create convenient infrastructure and tourist destinations for foreign and local tourists.

So why were Shakhrisabz and Qamashi districts chosen at the first stage?

In particular, Shakhrisabz district has attracted local tourists for many years with its history, picturesque nature, clear waters, flora, and majestic mountains. In addition, 10 mountainous areas were chosen as tourist mahallas, and work on tourism development began in 2021.

According to the information provided by the district hokimiyat, the flow of tourists to the Miraki tourist mahalla of the district increases significantly in the summer months. In 2022, 644 thousand local tourists visited the mahalla, and in 2023, this number reached 655 thousand, which is 2.5 times more than in 2017. 

Based on the objectives outlined following the visit of the President of the country to Kashkadarya region in October last year, large-scale construction and creative work has begun in Shakhrisabz district to develop tourism. 

– First, the Presidential Resolution “On measures to build modern service and tourist facilities in the mountain recreational zones of Kashkadarya region” of November 28, 2023, was adopted, the Department for Tourism Development and Management and the Shakhrisabz Tourist Center were created in Kashkadarya region, – says the Acting Director of this department Javokhir Tojiyev. – Together with the German company ECM GROUP, a master plan for 240 hectares of land in the Miraki, Amir Temur, Polmon, and Uloch mahallas was developed. According to the report, 48 large- and medium-sized service projects worth $117 million will be implemented in hotels, guest houses, and resorts, and 1,700 permanent jobs will be created. At the moment, SQB, NBU and Asakabank are carrying out construction work on the territory of 2 hotels for 1,100 beds, 3 hostels, 3 restaurants, a shopping and entertainment complex, and a 1.7-kilometer cable car worth $60 million. The construction of 17 hotels, guest houses, and sanatoriums for 1,300 beds worth a total of $29 million has also begun.

According to the Department for Tourism Development and Management of Kashkadarya Region, with the implementation of the above projects, the number of accommodation facilities will increase from 19 to 74, and general catering from 3 to 21. New tourist destinations will be organized, such as a water park, wine, agro-, livestock, extreme, ethno- and craft tourism. The daily flow of tourists will be increased from 1.5 to 12 thousand. It is expected to attract about 1 million local tourists.

In addition, according to the master plan, 10 kilometers of pedestrian and bicycle paths were built for 27 billion UZS. 107.6 billion UZS were allocated to create the Miraki tourist mahalla infrastructure in 2023-2024.

– Over the past year, colossal work has been carried out in our mahalla, – says one of the activists of Miraki mahalla Zulfiya Allayeva. – Our mahalla is fully connected to the sewerage network. The electrical networks have been updated. All internal roads have been paved. The road from the city of Shakhrisabz has been completely repaired. Large hotels are being built. More guest houses are being created. The construction of a Mega Mall is nearing completion. Boats have started cruising in Khisorak reservoir. It is encouraging that our mahalla is turning into a modern town, an actual tourist center.

Tourism is not only a profitable sector of the country’s economy, creating new jobs for the local population, but also contributes to developing several related industries. In particular, trade and services will grow.

– By establishing technical maintenance and car wash, cooking and selling local dishes, an increase in the population’s income will be achieved, – says Assistant to the Hokim of Miraki mahalla Nurbek Kholmurodov. – Due to the high quality of the land and fresh water in our area, the taste of fruits and vegetables is different. The increase in tourist flow contributes to the development of agriculture. 

In recent years, agrotourism has become increasingly used in the country. In particular, in Shakhrisabz district, as well as in Parkent, Bostanlyk, and Zaamin, 500 hectares of land in the CAM Uloch were developed to develop this direction of tourism and provide employment for the population, where the planting of gardens and vineyards began.

– A refrigerated warehouse with a capacity of 1,000 tons, a hotel, restaurants, and a livestock complex is being built here, – says Bekzod Kurbanov, head of Kashkadarya branch of the Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange. – Within the framework of the project, implemented with the support of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, a grant of 700 thousand euros was allocated from the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and 4.8 billion UZS from the budget of the regional hokimiyat. As a result of the work, 13 kilometers of water pipes were laid. Water-saving technologies are currently being introduced. In addition, the Republican Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange allocated 50 billion UZS to create a garden. Gardeners from Fergana region with extensive experience in this field have been involved in implementing the project. It is planned to develop 120 hectares of land, of which 60 hectares will be occupied by export varieties of grapes and 60 hectares – an orchard. Reinforced concrete trellises were installed in the vineyards. The project will create 1,000 permanent and 3,000 seasonal jobs. The region will produce 7.5 thousand tons of products, and exporting products worth $2.5 million a year will be possible. 

In addition, one of the major tourism projects has been launched – the construction of an all-season ski resort between the villages of Gelon and Sarchashma. If this project, founded by Russian investors – Kazan Cable Cars and Snow Service LLC, is launched, 150 new jobs will be created. It is planned to develop a ski resort.

– This complex, which has an area of ​​2.9 thousand hectares, will be built in stages, – says Temur Amirkulov, Deputy Hokim of Shakhrisabz district. – The first stage will include a 5.9-kilometer gondola lift, 4 ski slopes, 35 villas, 1 visitor center, a four-star hotel, a 5-story parking lot, a restaurant, a helipad, a children’s town, and pedestrian paths along the river. The second and third stages will include a 3.8-kilometer chairlift and a 2.9-kilometer gondola lift, 21 ski slopes, 3 hotels with 3, 4, and 5 stars, 2 restaurants, 75 villas, an observation tower, a zipline, and attractions consisting of roller coasters and sky parks. Once the complex is completed, it can accommodate 7,000 tourists at once. The total cost of this project is $300 million. 

In parallel with the tourism projects of Uzbekhydroenergo JSC, 4 hydroelectric power plants with a capacity of 24 MWh – Tamshush, Chappasuv, Ravot, and Hisorakmikro – are being built based on the Hisorak reservoir using a foreign loan of $79 million.

The facility is being constructed by the Chinese company China National Electric Engineering Co., Ltd., and foreign loans of $28 million have been attracted. As a result of the launch of the projects, 400 jobs will be created. The generated electricity is planned to be sent to tourist areas.

From the republican budget, 81.7 billion UZS were allocated for the current and major repairs of 126 kilometers of faulty roads. Asphalting work was carried out on the Miraki – Hisorak, Hisorak – Gelon, Hisorak – Sarchashma roads leading to the remote mountain villages of Gelon and Sarchashma, which led to an increase in the flow of tourists to these villages. As a result, 500 to 700 local and foreign tourists visit Gelon daily. Entrepreneurs built 5 hostels, 11 guest houses, and about 30 recreation areas in the village.

Tourism is one of the most dynamically developing and highly profitable industries. Of course, large-scale construction and creative work in Shakhrisabz district will give the expected results. It is unsurprising if the district makes a remarkable impression on foreign and local tourists as a place where our glorious history and bright future intersect. In addition, this will significantly impact employment and increase the income sources for residents. In short, Shakhrisabz district, consisting of villages, is being transformed and acquiring a modern look.

Ulmas Barotov, photos by Jamshid Norqobilov, UzA