DUSHANBE, Tajikistan – Extending further in Central Asia, three sustainable tourism-friendly organizations from Tajikistan have joined The Region Initiative (TRI). TRI is an associate member of the International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP).
The Pamirs Eco-Cultural Tourism Association (PECTA) is now a member of TRI. It is one of the organizations of Central Asia that has been working for sustainable tourism since its inception. PECTA was established in April 2008 with the support of the Mountain Societies Development Support Program (MSDSP), a project of the Aga Khan Foundation and is a non-commercial organization, which functions in accordance with the civil code law about non-commercial organization, and with the present legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan.
Pamir Highway Adventure is a Tajikistan-based, full-service adventure travel company, founded and run by local people and is one of the main tour operators of the Pamirs and Tajikistan.
Murghab EcoTourism Association (META) was established in 2003. The association participants, chosen from among the most economically-vulnerable families, received basic training, and a code of ethics was adopted by all stakeholders. The association has subsequently become a revenue-generating activity due to collaboration with other local development agencies. In particular, an association of women artisans has produced local craft goods that are now exported to various outlets in Central Asia and Europe.
It may be mentioned that Milal Inter – an organization working for cross-border tourism with Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan – is already a member of TRI.