Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Plan Your Trip
Community-
Based Tourism
Central Asia's community-based tourism organisations ofer some
of the region's best and most exciting experiences, at fantastic
value. Connect with these organisations for an incredible grass-
roots experience and sleep better in your yurtstay at night knowing
that your money is going directly to the family you are staying with,
rather than a middleman in Bishkek or abroad.
The Idea
At the end of the 1990s, with few economic
options left to Kyrgyzstan, development or-
ganisations started to look to new sources
of income to support remote communities,
starting with tourism. The idea was to
help connect intrepid tourists to a series
of local service providers, from drivers to
herders, in a fair and mutually beneficial
way, while supporting local craft produc-
tion and sustainable tourism practices.
The phenomenon started in central Kyr-
gyzstan with Swiss help (Helvetas) and has
since rapidly spread throughout the region.
Today these organisations offer everything
from homestays and vehicle hire to horse
treks and adventures across the country.
They are your keys to an authentic budget
adventure on the cheap.
In addition to gung-ho adventures,
most community-tourism organisations
offer a range of cultural activities. CBT
in Kyrgyzstan can organise displays of
felt-making or eagle-hunting. EIRC in
Kazakhstan arranges fun workshops mak-
ing
kumys
(fermented mare's milk) and
concerts of traditional Kazakh music.
Program coordinators sustain them-
selves through a 15% commission or a
small coordinator's fee. A few teeth-
ing problems remain to be addressed,
Community-Tourism
Contacts
Kazakhtan
Ecotourism Information Resource Centre
(p68; EIRC; www.eco-tourism.kz)
Wild Nature (p86; www.wildnature-kz.narod.ru)
Uzbekitan
Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biosphere Reserve
(p186; www.nuratau.com)
Kyrgyztan
Community Based Tourism
(p247; www.cbtkyrgyzstan.kg)
CBT plus Eco (p277; www.cbtpluseco.kg)
Tajikitan
Pamir Eco-Cultural Tourism Association
(p346; PECTA; www.pecta.tj)
Zerafshan Tourism Development Association
(p333; ZTDA; www.ztda-tourism.tj/en)
Murgab Ecotourism Association
(p354; META; www.meta.tj)
