The tentacles of tourism are reaching the remote mountainous regions of Central Asia, isolated from the rest of the world for centuries. The vast central region of the continent, demarcated by the mighty mountain ranges of the Hindu Kush and Himalayas. More and more travelers are coming to these latitudes captivated by their unique cultures and by the spectacle of Nature.
But the influx of tourists and their foreign exchange does not guarantee the expected improvements in the quality of life of the inhabitants of these regions. The old worries of the denizens of the Nepal, Tibet, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, etc. have been replaced by new ones: How to ensure that local communities benefit fully from tourism development? And besides that, will the growth of tourism help preserve and sustain the natural and cultural riches of these regions, or will it put them in danger?
La UNESCO has launched a cultural and ecological tourism development projecto in the mountainous regions of Central Asia and the Himalayas, aimed at establishing links and promoting cooperation between local communities, national and international NGOs and tourism agencies in order to involve local populations in employment opportunities and in the income-generating activities that tourism entails.
Furthermore, the project contributes in a practical and positive way to alleviating poverty by helping local communities to make the most of the tourism potential of their region, while protecting the environmental and cultural heritage of the region concerned.
Ladakh in the India, tien shen en Kazajstán, masouleh en Iran, the lake issy kul, riding a Kyrgyzstan, Humla in the Nepal, the Mountains of Pamir en Tajikistan are some of the regions involved in the project.
Project activities include the training of local tour guides, the production of high-quality handicrafts, and the promotion of rural tourism. It includes best practice recommendations, web resources, and a community characteristics database featuring maps, research information, attractions, and regional resources. Tourism as a door to the future for these regions and new horizons for travelers.