Tourism Development in three regions of the Ferghana Valley, Uzbekistan

Tourism is a strategic sector for the Uzbek economy that can overcome social and economic challenges in the long term. Since the reforms in 2017, tourism in Uzbekistan has experienced impressive growth. The number of tourists increased from 2.6 million to 6.7 million in 2019. Despite this success, challenges remain, such as limited diversification of tourism products, low service quality, underdeveloped infrastructure and uneven regional development. The Ferghana Valley in particular, known for its rich heritage of folk art and traditions, struggles with underutilization of its tourism potential. Problems such as dilapidated infrastructure, lack of quality service providers, skilled workers and professional tourist guides as well as competition between regions hinder the development of the valley as a unique tourist destination. 

Involving the local community
To overcome these challenges, the innovative community tourism network CTN-49 is being set up in the Ferghana Valley. This network enables broad participation of the population throughout the region. CTN-49 represents the 49 regions of the Ferghana Valley and includes members from across the tourism industry, including artisans, tour operators, tourist guides and accommodation providers. 

The project is being implemented by a consortium of Helvetas Germany and Mascontour GmbH, a consultancy for sustainable tourism. A particular focus is on the development of handicrafts, which are closely linked to tourism and represent the lifeblood of the Ferghana Valley. From ceramics to carpets and fabrics to knives: The Ferghana Valley is steeped in a traditional, vibrant craft culture. The aim is to create employment opportunities and increase income through improved tourism and service provider capacity to help reduce poverty in the Ferghana Valley. 

Diversification for more resilience
In addition, the project focuses on the promotion of destinations, capacity building for tourist guides and tour operators and the diversification of tourism products. Linking tourism with agricultural value chains is also being considered, with a focus on rural and community-based tourism. 

A technical approach aims to strengthen the resilience of the tourism sector in the Ferghana Valley. It takes into account lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as current trends in the tourism industry. Through a resilient tourism approach, the Ferghana Valley can position itself as an attractive, sustainable destination that meets the needs of travelers while promoting economic growth and protecting local livelihoods. 

This project is implemented on behalf of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).