Uzbekistan is recognized as one of the world centers of ziyorat tourism

Uzbekistan is recognized as one of the world centers of ziyorat tourism

In recent years, the flow of tourists heading to the shrines of Uzbekistan has noticeably increased.

Visas for believers

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan, since 2018 there has been an increase in the flow of guests from Muslim countries. Thus, the number of tourists from Indonesia increased by 70%, from Malaysia - by 58%, from Turkey - by 54%, from the UAE - by 53%.

This was largely due to the change in visa legislation. In 2018, entry procedures for pilgrim tourists were simplified in Uzbekistan, and the following year, the country introduced special two-month pilgrim visas (Pilgrim visa) for those interested in studying the cultural, historical, religious and spiritual heritage and traditions of the country. According to the State Committee for Tourism, on average, pilgrim tourists in Uzbekistan spend up to $ 160, excluding flights. The main expenses are accommodation, transport and food.

Before the pandemic, foreign tourists-pilgrims accounted for 5-7% of the total number of visitors to Uzbekistan, said Saidakhmad Raubaev, director of the Uzbek travel company Yasmina-tour. He notes that the number of local tourists, who often travel around the country for the purpose of pilgrimage to holy places, is also growing.

Infrastructure for pilgrims

In February 2019, the so-called Bukhara Declaration was signed, in which Uzbekistan was recognized as one of the centers of Ziyorat tourism. A little later, the Global Muslim Travel Index rating included the republic in the top ten most attractive destinations among the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The top 10 also includes such Muslim countries as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Malaysia, UAE and Indonesia.

However, in terms of providing amenities to halal tourists, Uzbekistan is located on the 18th line of the rating. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan occupy 19th and 20th places in this list ...

The development of the infrastructure of ziyorat tourism is one of the priority areas for business and government. Many new hotels in Uzbekistan are being built according to the halal standard. For example, new hotels under construction at the complexes of Imam al-Bukhari in Samarkand and Bahauddin Naqshbandi in Bukhara already at the design stage take into account all the requirements that are necessary to accommodate tourists-pilgrims. Hotels are located near mosques, rooms will have qibla signs, special baths for ablution, etc.

The existing hotels also take into account the requirements for tourist pilgrims. In an interview with "Kursiv", Marketing Director of the Hyatt Regency Tashkent Hotel Anna Martusevich noted: although the hotel is intended more for business tourists, all rooms have qibla signs, and prayer rugs can be borrowed from the administration. During the month of Ramadan, guests can make a night break - iftar.

Guide to neighbors 

Uzbekistan pays special attention to attracting pilgrims from neighboring Central Asian countries. In an interview with the Kazakh TV channel "Khabar 24", Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic Aziz Abdukhakimov said that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are planning to launch combined tours that will allow travelers to visit several popular places of the two republics at once.

The authorities of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Kazakhstan are planning to simplify the rules for crossing the border. For this, a special program has been developed, which has a unified visa regime and will make it possible to freely enter the territory of neighbors.

Director of Yasmina-tour Saidakhmad Raubayev believes that there are plenty of pilgrimage sites that are of interest to tourists from Kazakhstan in Uzbekistan. “These can be tours to historical places associated with famous public and religious figures of the Kazakh people. For example, a ziyorat tour of the tombs of the prominent Kazakh statesmen Tole-bi and Aiteke-bi, the authors of the Zhety zargy (Seven Code) code of laws, located in Tashkent and Navoi, ”he explains.

Kazakh tourists may also be interested in combined tours to places associated with famous Sufi saints. Such tours begin in Turkestan, with the mausoleum of the poet Akhmad Yassavi, famous in the East, continue in Tashkent with a visit to the memorial complex of Zangiata, a student of Yassavi, and end at the mausoleum of Hakim ota Bakirgoniy in Karakalpakstan. The cost of a budget five-day pilgrimage trip for 7-10 people starts at $ 200 per tourist.

Kazakhs should see it

According to the honorary ambassador of the tourism brand "Uzbekistan" in Kazakhstan Lazzat Akhanova, travelers from Kazakhstan will be interested in tours to Khiva. From the beginning of the 19th century, Khorezm was ruled by representatives of the Konyrat dynasty, who are directly related to the Konyrat family of the Kazakh people. Also, according to Akhanova, every Kazakhstani tourist should visit the Navoi region.

“Uzbekistan has managed to preserve and bring to an excellent condition the historical objects of the region, which are also related to the past of the Kazakh people. A modern infrastructure has been built here, service has been established, and qualified guides have appeared. For our tourist, of course, the key object in Navoi is the mausoleum of Aiteke-bi, a representative of the Younger Zhuz, a great figure who had a great influence on the unification of the Kazakh people. The complex "Chashma" is located nearby.

This is one of the main religious and tourist sites of great importance not only for Kazakhstanis. Here, according to legend, Nuri-ata, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, is buried, and nearby are the graves of the followers of the Prophet. Thus, in a pandemic, when the borders of many countries are closed, Uzbekistan is becoming an interesting destination not only for tourists, but also for businesses engaged in this area, ”Lazzat Akhanova said.

In December last year, the travel companies of the Navoi region of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan agreed on the joint development of pilgrim tourism to increase the flow of travelers to the region. A specially developed program will diversify your stay in Navoi region, which includes excursion, gastronomic, mountain and health tours. The latter direction enjoys particular success among residents of the southern regions of Kazakhstan, says Farhod Khoshimov.

Uzbekistan also participates in the formation of the Unified Calendar of Cultural Events of the countries of the Turkic Council. Tashkent and Nur-Sultan are discussing the issue of introducing the Silk Visa - the Asian version of the Schengen visa for the joint attraction of foreign tourists to the countries of Central Asia. Other countries in the region, as well as Azerbaijan, are expected to join the common visa project.

 

Source: kursiv.kz