Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, April 25 / Trend, H. Hasanov /
A workshop which focuses on Tourism and Hospitality has been organised with the support of the Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan by International Organisation Junior Achievement Worldwide, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and by Chevron, is underway in Ashgabat, the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported on Wednesday.
The workshops are being attended by representatives of the relevant ministries and departments of Turkmenistan. Its members are discussing issues of applying international quality standards of tourist services and various aspects of the hospitality business.
The tourism industry plays a special role in the country's strategic plans, an example of which is the Avaza resort which is the country's first free economic zone and currently under construction in the Caspian Sea, where investors, firms and companies are granted tax and customs privileges.
Turkmenistan has announced a number of international tenders for the construction of facilities and buildings here. According to official data, the total amount of investments already made is more than $1.5 billion. A new airport, power station, desalination and water treatment facilities have been built and sanatoria facilities are being commissioned on a regular basis.
A water park, yacht club, a sea life aquarium, indoor ski complex, cycle track, and casino-city will be constructed as part of the second stage of the Avaza development.
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed a decree for 'Tourism support and development in Turkmenistan' in 2011. Then the president stressed that the state creates the necessary conditions to stimulate tourism.
"Turkmenistan's geographical location, developed transport and communications system, rich recreational resources, unique natural and historical monuments open up the most favourable prospects for tourism development," the president said.