Project Detail

"Development of ecotourism and creation of socio-ecological conditions for environmental preservation in Khovaling district"

The proposed project is targeting to promote and to create economic opportunity for development of eco-tourism in Khovaling district of Khatlon oblast. Khovaling district is located in the south-east of Tajikistan at 300km distance far from Dushanbe city. The district is endowed with very fantastic and amazing nature, natural parks, mountainous rivers and lakes, as well as various historical-natural museums and tourists-interested objects. The population of Khovaling district is equal to 54,000 inhabitants and majority of people are engaged with agriculture production and livestock farming. Khovaling district has a great potential for creation and for development of eco-tourism and tourism as whole. Since the announcement of Khovaling district as tourist's zone by Government of Tajikistan, only in 2009 year above 3,000 international tourists and guests from various countries visited Khovaling district and sightsaw number of historical-cultural centers and museums in the district, namely Mosques of "Sulton Uvaizi Karani" and "Khodja Auba Anson", Holy place "Zelolak", museum and guesthouse of Tajik Hero "Vose" and so on. All these centers are having enough capacity to accommodate and provide services to above 160 guests daily. However, the capacity and knowledge of local people and management of historical-cultural centers to organize things at high quality and to promote the eco-tourism is very limited and require improvement and enhancement. In addition, the basic infrastructures are available at all locations, but require refurbishment and the awareness and skills of the local community and center managers to organize eco-tourism and to provide basic services for guests and tourists needs immediate improvement. There is a great need to increase civic awareness, knowledge and raise public advocacy on local eco-tourism, to create better economic opportunities for income-generating activities, women entrepreneurship (i.e. handicrafts, organic fruits, mountain herbs, cheese, horse-riding, photo-tour, mountain hiking and alpinism, etc.) and self-employment from providing services to national guests and international tourists (guesthouses, traditional food, tour to historical-cultural centers, district tour with guides, local markets, museums).

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

CSO 'Sadoi Kuhsor'

Country:

Tajikistan

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity
Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

OP6 - Y2 (Jul 16-Jun 17)

Grant Amount:

US$ 30,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 23,170.00

Project Number:

TJK/SGP/OP6/Y2/BD/CORE/2016/06

Start Date:

12/2016

End Date:

1/2018

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

1) Organization of round table with participation of all key stakeholders (Hukumat, Jamoats, Committee of Youth, Sport and Tourism, CBO-NGOs, Mass Media, etc.) at the district level on the subject "Main factors and mechanism of eco¬ tourism development in Khovaling district" 2) Organization of round table at the Oblast level with participation of all key stakeholders including international organizations and government organizations, as well as mass media of oblast level; 3) Provision of trainings and master-classes amongst project partners, center managers and local entrepreneurs on management and marketing; 4) Elaboration and publication of tourists guidebook "Khovaling' including map with centers' locations and tourists map with routines; 5) Provision of technical and material support to historical-cultural centers, Museum Vose, House-Museum Usto-Gulom and establish mini-markets and pavilions for local communities and women entrepreneurs to sale their traditional handicrafts, woodcrafts, fruits and herbs to visiting tourists;

Gender Focus

5) Provision of technical and material support to historical-cultural centers, Museum Vose, House-Museum Usto-Gulom and establish mini-markets and pavilions for local communities and women entrepreneurs to sale their traditional handicrafts, woodcrafts, fruits and herbs to visiting tourists; The project is financially and institutionally sustainable, and through active involvement, participation and contribution of the key government organizations, local/women entrepreneurs and historical-cultural centers the project will be able to provide added-value to the local economy and market development at the district and regional levels.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

> Trainings and master-classes amongst project partners, center managers and local entrepreneurs on management and marketing provided and knowledge enhanced;

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

At least 2 round tables with participation of all 15 institutions among key stakeholders (Hukumat, Jamoats, Committee of Youth, Sport and Tourism, CBO-NGOs, Mass Media, International Organizations, etc.) at the district and oblast levels conducted on the subject "Main factors and mechanism of eco- tourism development in Khovaling district";

Notable Community Participation

Direct beneficiaries: 250 men and 150 women Indirect beneficiaries: 7500 men and 4000 women

Capacity - Building Component

Provision of trainings and master-classes amongst project partners, center managers and local entrepreneurs on management and marketing; 4) Elaboration and publication of tourists guidebook "Khovaling' including map with centers' locations and tourists map with routines;

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The envisaged project is sustainable as it has strategical niche to improve and to promote local economy revival, social welfare, increase financial motivation and source of income and contribute to environmental conservation, sustainable and effective use of natural resources at the district level. The key project outcomes are: to create better economic opportunities at the district level to promote establishment of eco-tourism in Khovaling district; including development of rural/ local guesthouse services , recreation and other services for local residents and international tourists on commercial basis (gross income = 240,000 TJS/ year). Social welfare and improvement of living conditions of rural population of Khovaling district will be ensured through creating income-generating activities and development of local markets for realization of traditional handicrafts, woodcrafts, fruits and herbs, honey, nuts, and so on (above 200,000 TJS/ year from realization of local products). The project is financially and institutionally sustainable, and through active involvement, participation and contribution of the key government organizations, local/women entrepreneurs and historical-cultural centers the project will be able to provide added-value to the local economy and market development at the district and regional levels. At the district level, the administration (Hukumat, Jamoats), Committee of youth, sport and tourism and Committee of environmental protection (GEF OFP) will ensure oversight and backstopping to the project and will provide policy and legal support whenever necessary for promoting and development of the eco-tourism in Khovaling district, thereby aligning initiative with the district development plans, NDS and international standards.

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