BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 2
By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend:
Investing in tourism transport infrastructure would help the sector’s development in Turkmenistan, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) told Trend.
“It is widely recognized that logistics plays a vital role in enhancing a country’s image as a tourist destination. The easier and cheaper it is to get to and around a destination, the more people wish to visit it,” said UNWTO.
Also, UNWTO said that visa policy could greatly contribute to the further development of the tourism industry of Turkmenistan.
“As you may know, many tourists require a visa to enter the country. This is in contrast to Uzbekistan – the neighbor of Turkmenistan – which has revised its visa policy in the last three years. Offering visa-free tourism to citizens of more than 80 nations has led to a notable rise in the number of people visiting Uzbekistan,” explained UNWTO.
Furthermore, UNWTO noted that it is very important to invest in human capital. Tourism is the ultimate person-to-person sector.
“Developing the tourism workers of today, as well as educating the workers of tomorrow will ensure Turkmenistan will be able to count on well-qualified specialists and experts who will push the sector forward,” noted UNWTO, adding it’s ready to work closely with Turkmenistan as it develops its human capital.
In terms of the COVID-19 effect, UNWTO said that the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill, and tourism has been the worst affected of all major economic sectors.
“As with every other destination, Turkmenistan will have to make tourists feel safe and confident enough to travel again,” said UNWTO, noting that this will require political leadership, the cooperation of the public and private sectors, and enhanced levels of international cooperation.
“Tourism’s restart is underway in growing numbers of destinations worldwide. This means the return of the many social and economic benefits that the sector offers, both in Turkmenistan and elsewhere,” concluded the message.
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