OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CROSS-BORDER PILGRIMAGE TOURISM IN CENTRAL ASIA

Abstract

There are wide and different opportunities to develop cross-border tourism in Central Asia. In this article it is examined the necessary conditions for the development of cross-border religious and pilgrimage tourism covering some regions of Uzbekistan and neighboring countries, for instance, Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. In this regard, information on the most promising areas of the region, the existing pilgrimage sites there is highlighted on the example of the Lower Amudarya region, the Upper Amudarya region, the Zarafshan region, the Middle Syrdarya region, and the Fergana Valley regions. The pilgrimage touristic routes along the five mentioned cross-border regions have been developed and a map on the relevant topic has been prepared. At the same time, the article examines various problems that restrictive factors for the development of cross-border religious and pilgrimage tourism in the studied regions.

Keywords

• cross-border tourism
• touristic routes
• islam
• neighboring countries
• recreation resources
• historical sightseings