The Qashqadaryo region plans to host two new annual spring gastronomic festivals, namely "Lola va kabob" in Guzar and "Chiyal yaxna" in Kukdala, as part of an ongoing effort to boost local tourism. Regional authorities claim that the area possesses the capacity to accommodate up to 6 million tourists annually, though skeptics point out significant structural and logistical hurdles in achieving such ambitious targets.
During a recent regional development meeting, officials stated that 2.5 million people have allegedly visited the area since the beginning of the year, with the remote village of Gilan alone accounting for 500,000 visitors. Critics, however, question the accuracy and independent verification of these statistics, noting the general lack of transparent data collection in regional tourism reporting.
Plans are reportedly underway to launch the first phase of a ski resort in Gilan next year in cooperation with Tatarstan. Additionally, authorities intend to transform several villages—Taragay in Chirakchi, Bashir in Kitab, and Tatar in Yakkabog—into ethnotourism centers due to their natural landscapes. Mountain rivers in Sayod and Suvtushar villages, located in the Shahrisabz district, are also designated for rafting and sports tourism development.
Responsible entities have been instructed to finalize a comprehensive master plan for these six villages within a month, with project implementation valued at 50 million dollars scheduled to begin on March 1. Previously, the regional development agenda also touched upon expanding leisure services at water reservoirs, improving safety protocols for vacationers, and ensuring the reliable operation of local hydraulic structures.
Source: podrobno.uz