The SWOT analysis of the tourism sector in Tajikistan is summarized in the table below. Basically, Tajikistan has unique cultural, historical, natural and geomorphological resources. However, a low level of services, products and management are weakening the commercial exploitation of these assets in a sustainable manner.
Strengths
- hospitality and tolerance of Tajik people
- authentic, unspoiled and unexplored natural re-
sources
- breathtaking Tajik mountains and landscapes
- unique cultural heritage (part of the old and new Silk
Road)
- good climate
- existing tourism experience and tourism development
programmes
- existing community-based initiatives (homestays)
- existing handicrafts production and skills
- general high education level
Opportunities
- growing demand for Central Asia
- normalized relationship with Kyrgyzstan
- promising links with Chinese and Afghan neighbors
(opened border crossings)
- interest of some diasporas for pilgrimages
- prevailing peace and security in the region vs. instability in the Arabic area
- increased donor interest and recognition of the sector as key for poverty reduction
- growing popularity of National Park Pamir Mountains (Tajikistan) and National Park Wakhan (Afghanistan) and very good opportunities for a combined visit
Weaknesses
- lack of a general political will to develop tourism
- weak tourism management, regulation and control
- weak public-private partnership frameworks
- bureaucratic hurdles for private operators
- limited access to the destination (international flights)
- no regular internal flight connections and poor state of
some roads
- high seasonality of tourism activities
- seasonal constraints for water and electricity supply
- low qualified skills (technical and linguistic)
- lack of understanding of international markets, market
segmentation and client’s expectations
-
Threats
- unknown as a independent country and tourism destination to the world (except to East European tourists)
- conflictual relations with Uzbekistan (closed border crossings)
- increasing competition between trekking and touring destinations (other countries are more competitive)
- weak image of former Soviet Republic country and destinations
- international tourist confusion between Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Chechnya ...
- fragility of biodiversity
- high labor migration to Russia