DUSHANBE, 26.12.2018 (NIAT Khovar) — Today, the Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon made his annual address to the country’s bicameral parliament, during which he touched upon the main areas of domestic and foreign policy.

In his address, he noted the fact that compared to the previous year, the number of tourists who visited Tajikistan in 2018 increased more than two fold. However, though 2018 was declared the Year of Tourism, one year was not sufficient to achieve the set objectives to increase the tourist influx to the country.  Due to this, the President proposed to declare the years of 2019-2021 as the Period of Rural Development, Tourism and Folk Crafts.

“This year we adopted ‘Tourism Development Strategy to 2030’ and promoted the touristic advantages of Tajikistan.However, additional measures need to be taken to improve the sector’s infrastructure across the country,”emphasized the President.

“The main objective of the proposal is toreinforce the government’s efforts toward ensuring the prosperity of Tajikistan, to address the social issues of the population by improving the infrastructure, first and foremost, in the fields of education and healthcare, to create new jobs, to supply the rural population with quality drinking water, to constructand renovate local roads, to enhance the infrastructure related to tourism and development of folk crafts, to bring the level of services in line with the latest requirements and finally to improve the population’s well-being in every village and populated area,” he continued.

The President urged the governing bodies to undertake additional measures in order to achieve these objectives. He also emphasized the importance ofpromoting unique touristic sites, to protect, develop and ensure the effective use of the country’s natural resources, including its historical and cultural heritage, as well as to create a conducive environment for ecological, medical, sports and mountaineering tourism.