Garagel settlement, 1 April 2009 – Over 20 residents from Garagel, Chekishler, Gyzylsuw and Belek settlements adjoining the Hazar Nature Reserve learned about prospects for development of ecotourism in rural areas at a seminar organized last week within the framework of the UNDP Project «Conservation and Sustainable Use of Globally Significant Biological Diversity in Hazar Nature Reserve on the Caspian Sea Coast». The seminar was in tune with the Hazar project’s broader goal to discourage local communities from engaging in businesses that deplete biological resources of the Caspian Sea.  

Together with senior experts of the National Institute of Sports and Tourism the seminar participants reviewed advantages and benefits of ecotourism business development in Turkmenistan. They discussed legal aspects of state support to small businesses in the sphere of tourism, basics of business plan development and economic efficiency of ecotourism business as a whole. On the practical side, the seminar participants looked at various options of accommodating and catering tourists as well as organizing tours of the Caspian Sea coast and unique nature sites.   

Representatives of the legal department of the Hazar city administration, tax inspection and local branch of Turkmenbashi bank of the Hazar city took active part in the seminar. They conducted a “question-answer” session. 

The seminar participants also got acquainted with the successful experience of accommodating tourists in private houses. For this purpose they visited a “guest-house” in Garagel settlement, a project funded by the Hazar project Small Grants Programme.  

“I am thankful to organizers of this seminar for informing us on the options available to set up a tourist business and how to take advantage of the beautiful nature of our region. We have had a chance to meet employees of the Hazar Nature Reserve and will keep in touch with them in future. As for the idea of tourist accommodation in private houses, I am thinking now of opening a mini-hotel in my newly built house,” said Sohbet Meretdurdiyev, a hunter from Chekishler settlement. 

In conclusion, representatives of local communities came up with fresh ideas on how to better organize ecotourism business in their areas of residence that can be also funded by Small Grants Programme.  

It was decided that the Hazar project jointly with senior experts of the National Institute of Sports and Tourism will prepare a guidebook on ecotourism business in rural areas.

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The UNDP project «Conservation and Sustainable Use of Globally Significant Biological Diversity in Hazar Nature Reserve on the Caspian Sea Coast» started in 2006. It is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan and Global Environment Facility. The main goal of the project is to preserve globally significant biological diversity of Turkmenistan trough strengthening sustainability of the country’s national protected areas system.