Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT1626
2009-12-17 11:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: KEEPING UP APPEARANCES AT AVAZA
how-toVZCZCXRO9051 RR RUEHIK DE RUEHAH #1626 3511157 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 171157Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3928 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 6020 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3714 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3573 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 4262 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1327 RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 4201 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001626
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB SOCI PGOV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: KEEPING UP APPEARANCES AT AVAZA
REF: ASHGABAT 769
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001626
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB SOCI PGOV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: KEEPING UP APPEARANCES AT AVAZA
REF: ASHGABAT 769
1. (SBU) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for Public
Internet.
2. (SBU) Turkmen Government media depict the newly
developed Avaza resort on the Caspian Sea as a
popular, year-round vacation spot. However, the
climate on the Caspian is not conducive to winter
seaside vacations. In the absence of genuine tourists
in the wintertime, ministries and state
agencies are forcing their employees to spend their
winter vacations in Avaza. An employee of the
Ashgabat City Electric Power Department, a unit of the
Ministry of Electric Power and Industry, told Pol/Econ
local staff member that each employee was required to
go to Avaza and stay a minimum of five days in one of
the three hotels at the government rate of $24 per
night. Few people want to do this, even at such a
seemingly low price, because the average state
employee's salary is $200 a month. Many prefer to
spend their money on immediate needs rather than to go
to a seaside resort in the off-season. However, their
employers deduct the cost of the hotel directly from
their salary, so they have no choice but to acquiesce.
3. (SBU) Post's local contacts doubt that the Avaza
project will be financially self-sustaining, given the
massive investment to date and the lack of willing
tourists. According to Turkmen state-run media,
President Berdimuhamedov plans to build a total of
forty hotels at Avaza, although only three have opened
so far. Also planned are sport and recreation
complexes that would accommodate 15,000 tourists. At
the official opening of Avaza in June 2009, the
president said his government had already spent over
$1.5 billion on construction (reftel). In addition,
these new hotels will lose money every winter unless
the Turkmen Government can force enough employees to
go to Avaza to cover the expenses, since the hotels
are reportedly not allowed to close during the off-
season. Turkmenistan's stringent visa regime means
there will probably be few foreign tourists during any
season.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: It is difficult to foresee if or
when Avaza will become a source of revenue for
Turkmenistan, or a popular year-round resort
destination. However, its development remains a
presidential priority, which means no expense or
effort will be spared to make it look like a success.
Consequently, the Turkmen Government will continue to
sink money into the construction of new facilities and
force its employees to shoulder the burden of keeping
up appearances.
CURRAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB SOCI PGOV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: KEEPING UP APPEARANCES AT AVAZA
REF: ASHGABAT 769
1. (SBU) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for Public
Internet.
2. (SBU) Turkmen Government media depict the newly
developed Avaza resort on the Caspian Sea as a
popular, year-round vacation spot. However, the
climate on the Caspian is not conducive to winter
seaside vacations. In the absence of genuine tourists
in the wintertime, ministries and state
agencies are forcing their employees to spend their
winter vacations in Avaza. An employee of the
Ashgabat City Electric Power Department, a unit of the
Ministry of Electric Power and Industry, told Pol/Econ
local staff member that each employee was required to
go to Avaza and stay a minimum of five days in one of
the three hotels at the government rate of $24 per
night. Few people want to do this, even at such a
seemingly low price, because the average state
employee's salary is $200 a month. Many prefer to
spend their money on immediate needs rather than to go
to a seaside resort in the off-season. However, their
employers deduct the cost of the hotel directly from
their salary, so they have no choice but to acquiesce.
3. (SBU) Post's local contacts doubt that the Avaza
project will be financially self-sustaining, given the
massive investment to date and the lack of willing
tourists. According to Turkmen state-run media,
President Berdimuhamedov plans to build a total of
forty hotels at Avaza, although only three have opened
so far. Also planned are sport and recreation
complexes that would accommodate 15,000 tourists. At
the official opening of Avaza in June 2009, the
president said his government had already spent over
$1.5 billion on construction (reftel). In addition,
these new hotels will lose money every winter unless
the Turkmen Government can force enough employees to
go to Avaza to cover the expenses, since the hotels
are reportedly not allowed to close during the off-
season. Turkmenistan's stringent visa regime means
there will probably be few foreign tourists during any
season.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: It is difficult to foresee if or
when Avaza will become a source of revenue for
Turkmenistan, or a popular year-round resort
destination. However, its development remains a
presidential priority, which means no expense or
effort will be spared to make it look like a success.
Consequently, the Turkmen Government will continue to
sink money into the construction of new facilities and
force its employees to shoulder the burden of keeping
up appearances.
CURRAN