An Internship Report on Sustainable Tourism in Tajikistan

&

How Climate Change affects Tourism and Gender

Internship at Pamir Eco-Cultural Tourism Association (PECTA) Khorog, Pamir Region under the

Alumni Network for Mountain Development (ANMD) –Tajikistan as Sponsoring Organization

Intern Ms. Mana Dahal

Alumni Network for Mountain Development Nepal (ANMD Nepal)

Kapan -3, Kathmandu, Nepal

Start date for Internship 11th June, 2012

End date for Internship 5st July, 2012

Report date 30th July, 2012

PREFACE

As part of activity of ANMD Nepal of year 2012 I have completed 3 weeks

Internship at the Pamir Eco Tourism association (PECTA), Khorg in Tajikistan. In

this report I have shared my experiences for the period of 11June, 2012 to 5th July,

2012. During the internship my role and responsibility were to learn and collect

information about the sustainable tourism activities and how climate change

affects to the tourism and gender. Here I have noted my experiences as well as

provided some recommendations for the sustainable tourism.

This report is a collective contribution by all those whom I contacted and

interacted as a part of the study and got apprised of wonderful reflections and

experiences. I would like to thank the members of ANMD -Tajikistan, Staffs of

Pamir Eco Cultural Tourism Association (PECTA) and all concerns members of GIZ.

Thank You

ACRONYMS

AKF Aga Khan Foundation, Tajikistan

ANMDP Alumni Network for Mountain Development Programme

CIZ Common Interest Group

CBSG Community Based Saving Group

GABO Gorno Badaskshan

GIZ Geschellschaft Internationale Zussamenarbiet (German

International Cooperation)

MSDSP Mountain Society Development Support Programme

PECTA Pamir Eco-Cultural Tourism Association

WUA Water User Association

VO Village Organization

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Pages

Preface------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2

Acronyms---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

Map of Pamir region of Tajikistan -------------------------------------------------- 5

Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

Objectives------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6

Methodology------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

Tourism Activities in Pamir------------------------------------------------------------- 9

Community Based Home Stay Programme----------------------------------------- 14

Findings/Key Learning-------------------------------------------------------------------- 15

Conclusion & Recommendation ----------------------------------------------------- 15

List of Visited Organizations and Places ------------------------------------------- 15

How affects Climate Change in Tourism & Gender Adaptation ------------- 16

Water and Climate in Porshinev... Case study-------------------------------------- 20

Climate Change & Gender-----------------------------------------------------------------21

MAP of Pamir Region, Khorog in Tajikistan

INTRODUCTION

Background:

Alumni Network for the Mountain Development Programme (ANMDP) is a regional network

established in five different countries/regions including Nepal Pakistan, Tajikistan and

China(Tibet & Xinjiyan) with the holistic aim of sustainable mountain development in the region

through a capacitated alumni of different programmes of GIZ, Germany (formerly known as

InWent). ANMDP has been established on June 2010 for the purpose of knowledge and sharing

experience, capacity building on best practice via the network. InWent/GIZ has been funding and

closely working with ANMD – Nepal and other regional networks as well. This short term Internship

programme was organized under ANMD Nepal and ANMDP Tajikistan network with the

support of the GIZ Germany, as a part of regular activities of the year 2012.

Objectives:

The main objective of the visit was to have a short term internship on following areas;

Sustainable tourism in Tajikistan,

How climate change is affecting tourism sector and gender adaptation.

Methodology & Approaches:

Following approaches and methods were used for the completion of this assignment:

a) Interaction/ consultation meetings with the concerned including Pamir Eco Cultural Tourism

Association-PECTA, tour operators, President, Driver association, local people. The interaction

helped in understanding the general context of the region.

b) Site visit, observation such as Dusanbe, Khorog, Jelondi, Porshineov and many other tourist

spots were visited and interaction/consultation meetings with the local people of the places

and authorities.

c) Analysis of the collected data related on tourism, economic, climate change and gender.

The use of existing data, information and consultations at different levels including the

community people and officials had been very useful for understanding and analyzing the

situation of the region.

Tajikistan:

The Republic of Tajikistan is a mountains land locked country in Central Asia. It borders

Afghanistan to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north and China to the east.

Capital is Dushanbe and population is around 7 million (6, 87,8637- in 2010), three official

languages are Persian, Tajik and Russian. The government is presidential system. About 93

percent of land of Tajikistan is mountainous.

Pamir Region

Gorno Badaskshan is an autonomous mountain Province in the east of Tajikistan, located in the

Pamir Mountains in central Asia as ‘Roof of the World’, although some claim that ‘Pomir’ means

‘feet of the sun’. The Pamirs are one of the last “undiscovered’’ tourist destinations. It makes up

45% of the land area of the country but only 3% of the population. Khorog is center of the

Pamir Mountains and all tourists visit through this area. This city is very clean and has full of

natural beauty and also has a very different desert like landscape. The region has good water

resource. Therefore, hydro power is the main infrastructure development in this area. This area

has well developed tourism sector.

Development of Tourism in Pamir

Before the year of 2008, nominal tourists used to visit through the tour guide operators. Few

tour guide operators were in operation by their own network.

Considering the necessity of a regional office at Khorog, Pamir Eco-cultural Tourism Association

(PECTA) has been established by Mountain Society Development Support Programme (MSDSP),

under the financial support of Aga Khan Foundation (AKF Tajikistan). MSDSP is an established

NGO in Tajikistan under the financial support of AKRSP and PECTA is its project.

From the year of 2008 PECTA has been working as an information hub at Khorog, for the

promotion of tourism related activities in Pamir region.

Communication officer at PECTA PECTA Office at Khorog Internee is working at PECTA office

Pecta is working in the following aspects:

1. Provide training to the stakeholders in tourism sector including tour guide

operators, driver association, porter association, home stay service providers

2. Maintain public relation- marketing

3. International trade fair in different countries

4. Regional tourism information hub

5. Seeking funds from the donors for promoting tourism and infrastructure

development

Table 1 Tourists visit rate from 2009 to 2011 in Tajikistan

SN Visited year Tourist visa Tourist from No. of countries

Personal visa

No. of countries

1 2009 8,130 57 countries 1,27,977 62 countries

2 2010 27,735 67 countries 1,63,615 67 countries

3 2011 44,226 57 countries 1,41,030 44 countries

Visitors from Nepal were 9 persons in 2009, 44 persons in 2010 & 0 in 2011.

Duration of stay: most tourists stayed between 8 and 14 days

Tourism Activities in Pamir

Craft Tour

Trekking/hiking

Jeep trekking

Cross border visit

Alpinism/Mountaineering

Visiting historic sites

Rafting

Horse riding

Cultural performance

City Tour

Village Stay/ Home Stay

Major Income Sources in Pamir are as follows;

1. Agriculture (horticulture, livestock)

2. Energy product- Hydro power

3. Remittance

4. Micro business

5. Seven mineral resources including silver, gold, ruby and other valuable stone are under

extraction with the agreement between government and different local and

international contractors (Chinese and Kyrgyzstanis)

Table 2 Out Migration rate of the Pamir region

SN Age group Male Female Total

1 18 years 84 50 134

2 28/29 years 6869 2457 9326

3 M- 30 – 62/ F- 30-57 6954 1987 8941

4 M-63 / F-57 27 7 34

Total 13,934 4501 18435

In the year 2012 till May last 18,435 people migrated to different countries. Among

them 18,090 migrated to Russia, 205 migrated to other republic countries and 48

migrated to Europe and America and 183 are with family permanently migrated in

Kazakhstan. Remittance received in last 5 month of this year 2012 was US$ 18,988,000

while in the year 2011 it was 4,477000.00 US$ (Data source: Immigration Department,

Government of Tajikistan)

.

Meeting with Mr. Latif, Head of Economic & Trade Department of GBAO. He was one of participants of NePam Workshop,

held in October, 2009 in Kathmandu Nepal

Organizations and places of Pamir region visited during the visit

1. PECTA office: PECTA is working as information hub for the tourism sector. It was

established in 2008 at Khorog by the support of the MSDSP. Nowadays, its activities are

concentrated on self sustaining the organization. They provide trekking and hiking

materials to the tourist in rent such as, tent, hiking stick, climbing rob, bicycle, gas stove,

sleeping bags etc.

2.

3. Botanical Garden: The Pamir Botanical garden is an attraction to the tourists in Khorog

kneged landscape. It is situated at 2300 metre altitude and is the second highest

Botanical Garden in the world. The garden’s plants diversified into superb collection of

up to 2300 varieties, many are imported from the Europe and central Asian countries.

This garden has been maintained since Soviet Union time and one interesting thing

about the garden is that the greenery has been maintained by irrigation system. About

624 hectare arable land was reserved to serve as National park. People are using this

garden as picnic spot and for hiking.

Symbol of Soviet Union (15 republic) at Botanical garden

4. City Park: This is a beautiful park, located at centre of the Khorog valley, so it is also

called as central park. It is a nice garden with tall green trees, different flowers,

swimming pond, children’s park etc. The new thing is that an irrigation system was there

for the irrigation of garden because without irrigation the garden can not survive due to

the dry climatic condition of this area. It needs to be irrigated everyday with the

irrigation canal system near the garden. It was donated by the Aga Khan Cultural Trust

and opened by his highness himself on 10th October, 2009. It opens every day from 7.00

am to 10 pm

5. Department of Education of GABO

A meeting was organized with Mr. Garivsoev Garibshov, Education Minister of GABO. He

is one of participants of ILT–I group and one of the promoter of the NePam project. He

is responsible for education department.

6. Cross Border Market: The cross broader market between Tajikistan and Afghanistan

people was visited on 17th June. This market is very interesting where people from both

countries bring their local products, vegetables, clothes and sell there. In that ways the

local people get benefited from each other and it was a good opportunity to see the

market as tourist attraction. There are all together six bridges between Pamir, Tajikistan

and Afghanistan. For the Tourist it is also a good opportunity to see cross bordermarket

and visit Afghanistan as well.

Tem cross border market in Khorog Bridge between Afghanistan & Tajikistan

7. Green House Project of GIZ and Hot Spring at Jelondi: During the internship the GIZ

funded Green house project at Jelondi was also visited. Mr. Matthias and Mr. Hakim, thr

staffs of GIZ, had organized an official visit there where the project as well as the hot

spring was observed. Jelondi is a famous place for hot spring, as medicinal spring. During

the interaction with the people it was known that some of them visited the hot spring

by the recommendation of their doctors. Therefore it is a good place for the domestic

tourism.

8. Water Users Association in Porshinev:

Porshinev is a neighbor village, 18 km far from Khorog with 1212 households (8000

population). It has a good potential for the agriculture product and irrigation is very

important to them. Due to the scarcity and mismanagement of water, people were

suffering from many years. For the water management purpose they had organized a

workshop in 2008 and initiated volunteer contributions from 2009. An organization was

established in 2010 as ‘Hope for Water’ and it is helping for water management system

in the village. Now Water User Association has developed some rules and they have

managed a good water supply system in their village.

With newly elected leader of water association Map of Porshinev

9. Nosiri Khusrav, historic & culture place is located near Porshinev. Nosiri Khusrav was a

leader of Ismaili Muslim followers.

Community Based Home Stay program

More than 60 numbers of homestay are available in the Pamir region. PECTA is providing

training to them and also has fixed basic norms on quality of food, bedroom and other facilities

like bathroom, toilets, warm water, heater etc.

A Model Home Stay Community-Based Tourism in Ishkashim

Hard work and strong linkages with other tour operators has led one particular home stay in Yamg to become an excellent model for other households involved in local tourism activities. Nekbakhtmo had no stable job or income to support her large family. Nekbakhtmo and her husband had taken training from MSDSP about tourism promotion then they followed the tourism business. Due to her service and better handicrafts, tourists recommend her homestay to the other tourists. The family advertises their home-stay in Dushanbe and have contracts with other companies. Based on the contract they send them tourists on annual basis. During the interview with Nekbakhtmo, she expressed her gratitude towards MSDSP for facilitating her family’s Home-stay project by way of providing important trainings and key equipments.

Nekbakhtmo with her family members Her handicraft shop

Sample homestay visit

Malika, 41 years old, professionally is a nurse. She started Home Stay in own house after death

of her husband, 4 year before. She has three children, two daughters and one son of 17 years,

12 years and 9 years old. Her home stay is always full with tourists even though she cannot

speak English. She said this business is better than her earlier job as a nurse and she can earn

enough money for her family.

Home Stay

Findings/ Key Learning:

Through the tourism activities local people are getting seasonal jobs such as tour

operators, guides, handicraft, local product etc.

The Pamir is famous for seasonal tourism that happens only in summer for about 4 to 5

months. Therefore in summer time, some of out-migrated young people also come back

to the country for employment.

There was focus not only on international tourism but also on domestic tourism. A

guidebook on tourism is published in Tajik language. This is promoting tourism in the

culturally located areas and historical place including Nosiri Khusrav’s place. As of 2010 Khorog, Kala-i-Khum and Ishkashim border crossings are open to foreigners.

It is better to have Langar crossing open in the near future.

Afghan Badakhshan is the most secure province in Afghanistan. Tourism in Afghan Badakhshan is new. Transport, hospitality and accommodation services are only just developing.

To some extent they have been followed land use plan for the settlement, cities are

clean and greenery is maintained although the area is dry.

It is found that MSDSP has been supporting the tourism sector by establishing PECTA.

However, there has not been enough support and activities from the government side.

Altogether more than sixty home stays are available in the Pamir. Most of the home

stays have been equipped with solar showers and primus stoves for cooking. There has

been training on management of forest resources.

Government has formed a committee for three different sectors namely, illiterate sport,

youth & tourism, but these various areas are under the same committee. This may be

the main reason the government has not been playing active role in the tourism sector.

Conclusion & Recommendation:

• Pamir is most popular place for tourism with several natural seneries and has lots of

potentials and opportunities. PECTA is an organization which has been regularly serving

since 2008 the tourism sector by providing information and supporting by building

capacity of the stakeholders. Although PECTA is doing well, this, however, is not enough.

PECTA‘s capacity needs to be further strengthened to develop new and innovative

tourist products and services.

• Promotion of Home Stays can be good income sources for the community people, if it

will be improved and will be able to provide better facilities to the tourists. However

additional promotion and support is needed from GBAO (Government side) particulary

in the areas of advertising tour opeartors, mobilization of tour guides and tourism

promotion .

• Some homestays pay 5-10% to Village Organization (VO) for the Village Development

fund which can be used by VO for community benefit.

• There is some rooms for improvement in the sanitation part, food processing, serving

and presenting. It can be improved by providing trainings to the local people. Similarly,

Government and responsible organization should encourage easy application and

approval of tourist visa/permit.

• The listed major Income sources by the government are agriculture, horticulture,

livestock, energy product, remittance, micro business, mining, etc. Government has not

given sufficient priority to the tourism sector. The local people are involved tourism

because of their own interest and the benefit which they directly get from the tourism

activities.

• A planning workshop on Sustainable Tourism in Nepal and Pamir Region of Tajikistan was organized on 2008 in Kathmandu, Nepal under the NePam Project. The aim of the project was to enhance partnership between the two countries and to share knowledge between the

countries for sustainable Tourism. Following that idea, during the Internship period we have discussed and promised to do continue it in the future too. This will be a good opportunity to both of us for the exchange knowledge and work together in the tourism and development sector.

List of Visited Organizations and Places

SN Name of visited Organization & place Date Contact Person

1 City Park 15June Mr. Yodgor & Mr. Asadscho

2 PECTA 15June Ms. Zhandhiya & Ms. Rohila

3 Education Minister, GABO 15June Mr. Garibshoev

4 Head of the Investment department, GABO

15June Mr. Khursand

5 Botanical Garden, Khorog 15June Mr. Yodgor, Mr. Asadscho & Mr. Khursand

6 Cross Broader Market- Tajikistan & Afghanistan

16June With Focal person

7 MSDSP, Khorog 18June Mr. Yodgor and Mr. Asadscho

8 University of Central Asia 20June Mr. Zulol

9 Green house project of GIZ at Jelondi with GIZ team,

21June Mr. Mattias & Mr. Hakim

10 Environment Protection department, GABO

22June Mr. Shirin,

11 Nosiri Khusrav, historic & cultural place

23June Mr. Garibshoev with family

12 Water User Association in Porshinev community

26 June Ms. Yana, Mr. Bakhtul

13 Head of Economic & Trade department of GBAO

28June Mr. Latif Bozichaevich

14 Regional office, GIZ, Joint Forest Management program

29 June Mr. Manucher

15 Mahebuba Home Stay 1 July

16 Ismili Centre 1st July

17 Bonanical Garden, Dushanbe 2nd July

18 National Museum 3rd July

Effects of Climate Change in Tourism and Gender Adaptation in Tajikistan

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges faced by human civilization. The effects of

climate change ranges from changes in weather pattern, extreme rainfall and drought events.

The effects vary from place to place. Tajikistan has complicated geographical conditions and so

it is one of the most vulnerable countries of the Eurasian continent in relation to the ongoing

climate change. Over the past 60 years, average annual temperature is hung up to 1 ° C. From

1956 to 1990, glacier resources of Central Asia fell by more than three times. There have been

cases of drought (from 2006 to 2008) and the number of days with heavy precipitation (the last

two years). Climate change has probably contributed to reduction in winter pastures in the

Eastern Pamirs (due to heavy snow fall). The extreme weather phenomena can lead to reduced

capacity of the country in achieving sustainable development.

Keeping in view of the Pamir would not be free from the effects of climate change, during the

visit of Khorog and Pamir region a survey to find out the effects of climate change on tourism

and gender adaptation, was done. During the survey the local people reported that since the

last 2-3 years there have been some changes in seasonal weather pattern such as long rainfall

period, unusual snow falls, less snow fall in peak season, warmer temperature in summer and

too cold weather in winter than the earlier years. Similarly, in the winter of year 2012, about 2

feet of snowfall was recorded in Khorog. This extent of snowfall happened after about 30 years

gap. The other effects observed by the people higher glacial flow due in summer, unusual

flooding etc.

Effects of Climate Change:

• Impact on agriculture, affecting food security

• Challenged pastoral system

• Increased vulnerability

• Mountain infrastructure

Road block by unusual stone falling in June

Impact of the Climate Change (Probably) within last few years:

Normally March is the starting of warmer season. However, this year, there was lots of

snowfall happening in March. Due to the cold weather yaks, goats, sheep died.

Due to the long term snow and wetness in their field people could not carryout

agricultural activities in the right time.

Most of the tourists canceled their planned schedule for mountain climbing due to drop

in temperature and snow.

Due to the flood and glacial melt number of tourists and local people were stranded on

the highway linking Dusanbe to Khorog for about a week. Government did not have

enough funds to clear the road timely.

Similar problems were there in the roads linking the villages, which directly affected the

people‘s livelihood by disrupting materials transportation.

Glacier and flood washed out water cannels and pipeline in summer. The government

could not timely repair the pipelines and water supply for 2-3 weeks and as a result

water supply in the city was scarce and people had to fetch water from the river.

Glacial from the mountain

Water and Climate in Porshinev: A Case study

With new leader of WUA, advisor Ms. Yana and staffs

After the interaction with Leader of WUA and others it was found that before there was

mostly snow fall and not much rainfall due to which people needed more water for the

irrigation purpose. There were regular conflicts for claiming water resources. Earlier

people were suffering from scarcity of water, but now there is enough water due to the

climate change which has changed the rainfall schedule and snow falling ratio. Now they

have enough water for the drinking and irrigation purpose.

Hazard Mitigation and Improved Water Supply Infrastructure

Sheep and goats grazing in the mountain area

During the interaction to the local people, they expressed their experiences on many noticeable

problems due to the climate change. In this case climate change has not brought only negative

results; it has brought some positive results also. Some positive results of the climate change,

as follows:

Greenery in the dry mountains,

increasing in the pasture land,

Enough water supply in the village for drinking and irrigation purpose.

Numbers of tourists has been increased for the mountain climbing, cycling , hiking due

to the warm weather

Climate change and Gender in Tajikistan

Generally there has not been any significant gender discrimination issue. Both male and

female are equally involved in their households work and bread earning activities.

Women are more responsible for the household’s activities and social obligation while

her husband or son leaves the country for earnings. In the absence of male, females also

have to be equally responsible for bread earning activities to survive.

Out migration rate is high from the Pamir region for employment. Numbers of out

migration data has showed male are migrated three times more than female (see table

2 for the migration rate).

From gender Involvement point of view in the tourism sector, male are involved as tour

operators, guides, drivers and other supportive roles and female are involved in home

stay activities and handicraft business. There is also a trend that out migrated young

people (male and female) come back home in the summer season due to favorable

weather.

During the interaction with people, it was understood that in the past year women had

to go far away to fetch water in the dry season. However, nowadays because of higher

temperature, the melting rate of snow is high causing increase in discharge of water.

This has led to easy available of water which has helped them by reducing their work

load even they have no idea about long term impact of climate change.