Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Tajikistan will simplify visa rules for foreign tourists. It was stated at the Third Silk Road Ministers' Meeting held in Berlin on March 6.

The main aim of such a step is to expand the access of foreign visitors and ensure tourists flow to Tajikistan.

According to the visa application procedure, the cost of visa for 45 days is $25 in Tajikistan. If the group of tourists visits the country, a 50-percent discount is provided to each tourist for the visa ($12.5). The visa is given in three working days and would be got not only from diplomatic missions of Tajikistan in foreign countries, but also in Dushanbe and Khujan international airports and the representation of the Tajik Foreign Ministry in Khorog, the capital of Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan.

Experts believe that simplification of visa regime in Tajikistan is the key issue for attracting foreign tourists to the country.

In spring of 2012, Tajikistan unilaterally abolished the visa regime for citizens of the United States, European Union and some other countries of South-East Asia.

The deputy chairman of the Committee for Youth Affairs, Sport and Tourism, Lochin Fayzulloyev, said earlier that 180,000 tourists visited Tajikistan in 2011.

He added that the increase in the number of tourists is related with the growth of quality of tour agencies and successful advertisement work in Tajikistan.

Fayzulloyev also mentioned that Tajikistan was declared the most non-precarious country in the Central Asia with necessary components for tourism. However, according to the report of International Economic Forum, Tajikistan is located on 139^th place for its competitive ability for tourism, he added.

The 3rd Silk Road Ministers' Meeting brought together ministers and vice ministers of tourism from over 20 countries located over historical Silk Road and international experts for discussion of how to join forces for the development of Silk Road tourism, while safeguarding its exceptional heritage sites and intangible cultural heritage.

The main achievement of the ministerial was that the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) intended to join their efforts for the development of tourism.

The two organizations announced the start of the 'Silk Road Heritage Corridors' tourism strategy project for Central Asia and China, which will commence in 2013 with the support of UNESCO/Netherlands Funds-in-Trust.