Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT482
2009-04-16 12:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN'S STATE TOURISM AND SPORTS COMMITTEE
how-toVZCZCXRO1431 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0482 1061237 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 161237Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2655 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5080 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2831 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2696 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3324 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3462
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000482
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB, EUR/ACE FOR FISCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EIND TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S STATE TOURISM AND SPORTS COMMITTEE
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT DEVELOPING THE SECTOR
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000482
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB, EUR/ACE FOR FISCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EIND TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S STATE TOURISM AND SPORTS COMMITTEE
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT DEVELOPING THE SECTOR
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Representatives of the State Tourism and
Sports Committee said that they are interested in developing
Community-Based Tourism (CBT),especially national crafts,
higher education for tourism professionals, and some areas
that they estimate are ripe for ecotourism. Some donors from
Germany and Turkey, as well as regional organizations are
already actively working on projects in the tourism sector.
Turkmen officials have reacted enthusiastically to the idea
of cooperating in this area, but potential partners should
listen closely to the Turkmen regarding which projects that
they would like to pursue. From past experience, Post knows
that Turkmenistan will be determined to work on the
President's priorities first and will not be swayed from
that. END SUMMARY.
INTEREST IN DEVELOPING NATIONAL CRAFTS, EDUCATION, AND
NATIONAL PARKS
3. (SBU) At a meeting on April 14, representatives of the
State Tourism and Sports Committee said that they are
interested in engaging in projects with donors to develop
Community-Based Tourism (CBT). The officials indicated
interest in projects directed towards developing national
crafts projects, which they viewed positively because of the
possibility to create jobs for residents of the provinces.
They also reacted well to the concept of developing
tourism-oriented institutions of higher learning. They added
that the Ministry of Culture is in charge of educating people
how to produce products for sale to tourists, and the State
Tourism and Sports Committee has responsibility for showing
tourists around the country.
CURRENT PROJECTS IN THE TOURISM SECTOR
4. (SBU) The officials said that some European donors and
USAID are working with the Ministry of Nature Protection to
develop CBT. A German organization called the Sukov Fund
(phonetic spelling) is working on national park development.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) is working on a CBT project in conjunction with local
organization Gulnahal (Mary province). Turkish development
agency TICA offers training in tourism marketing, and
internships in Turkey for tourism professionals. Deputy
Chairman, Ferhat Arjanov; Chief of International
Relations/Marketing and Promotion Department, Abdurakhman
Mamedniyazov; Deputy Chief of Tourism Department, Serdar
Akiniyazov; and Head Specialist of International
Relations/Marketing and Promotion Department, Ayna Karliyeva;
represented the State Tourism and Sports Committee. Deputy
Rector of the National Institute for Sport and Tourism,
Handurdy Ovezov, also attended the meeting.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: It appears that tourism is an area that
would have strong possibilities for cooperation, if the right
donors were to propose projects that the Turkmen were
enthusiastic about. In a rare sincere show of enthusiasm,
one official said, "we would really be happy to develop" the
tourism sector. The Turkmen were said that many places are
ripe for ecotourism, such as a desert area called Repetek, so
the key is to identify which locations and topics are
priorities for them. From past experience, Post knows that
Turkmenistan will work on President Berdimuhamedov's
priorities first, and will not be swayed from that. END
COMMENT.
MILES
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB, EUR/ACE FOR FISCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EIND TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S STATE TOURISM AND SPORTS COMMITTEE
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT DEVELOPING THE SECTOR
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Representatives of the State Tourism and
Sports Committee said that they are interested in developing
Community-Based Tourism (CBT),especially national crafts,
higher education for tourism professionals, and some areas
that they estimate are ripe for ecotourism. Some donors from
Germany and Turkey, as well as regional organizations are
already actively working on projects in the tourism sector.
Turkmen officials have reacted enthusiastically to the idea
of cooperating in this area, but potential partners should
listen closely to the Turkmen regarding which projects that
they would like to pursue. From past experience, Post knows
that Turkmenistan will be determined to work on the
President's priorities first and will not be swayed from
that. END SUMMARY.
INTEREST IN DEVELOPING NATIONAL CRAFTS, EDUCATION, AND
NATIONAL PARKS
3. (SBU) At a meeting on April 14, representatives of the
State Tourism and Sports Committee said that they are
interested in engaging in projects with donors to develop
Community-Based Tourism (CBT). The officials indicated
interest in projects directed towards developing national
crafts projects, which they viewed positively because of the
possibility to create jobs for residents of the provinces.
They also reacted well to the concept of developing
tourism-oriented institutions of higher learning. They added
that the Ministry of Culture is in charge of educating people
how to produce products for sale to tourists, and the State
Tourism and Sports Committee has responsibility for showing
tourists around the country.
CURRENT PROJECTS IN THE TOURISM SECTOR
4. (SBU) The officials said that some European donors and
USAID are working with the Ministry of Nature Protection to
develop CBT. A German organization called the Sukov Fund
(phonetic spelling) is working on national park development.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) is working on a CBT project in conjunction with local
organization Gulnahal (Mary province). Turkish development
agency TICA offers training in tourism marketing, and
internships in Turkey for tourism professionals. Deputy
Chairman, Ferhat Arjanov; Chief of International
Relations/Marketing and Promotion Department, Abdurakhman
Mamedniyazov; Deputy Chief of Tourism Department, Serdar
Akiniyazov; and Head Specialist of International
Relations/Marketing and Promotion Department, Ayna Karliyeva;
represented the State Tourism and Sports Committee. Deputy
Rector of the National Institute for Sport and Tourism,
Handurdy Ovezov, also attended the meeting.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: It appears that tourism is an area that
would have strong possibilities for cooperation, if the right
donors were to propose projects that the Turkmen were
enthusiastic about. In a rare sincere show of enthusiasm,
one official said, "we would really be happy to develop" the
tourism sector. The Turkmen were said that many places are
ripe for ecotourism, such as a desert area called Repetek, so
the key is to identify which locations and topics are
priorities for them. From past experience, Post knows that
Turkmenistan will work on President Berdimuhamedov's
priorities first, and will not be swayed from that. END
COMMENT.
MILES