ABOUT ZTDA
The Zerafshan Tourism Development Association (ZTDA) is a young public community based organisation created in March 2008 under the project “Community Based Tourism in the Zerafshan Valley”, implemented by the local NGO ASDP NAU and the German NGO Welthungerhilfe with financial support from the European Commission.
ZTDA aims to develop sustainable tourism in the region, adapted to local society, culture and the fragile environment.
Today, ZTDA represents the interests of its members who provide tourist services ranging from accommodation in traditional home stays to transportation and mountain guides.
In August 2008 ZTDA received from the Committee on Tourism, Sport and Youth of Tajikistan a licence for implementing tourism activities. Since then, ZTDA has been organising sustainable tourism in the Zerafshan Valley involving the local service providers in elaboration of the tour programs as well as in tour organisation.
In order to improve the quality of the services provided, ZTDA’s members participate in professional training courses focused on different issues: home stays, guiding, environmental care, marketing, business management and others. To ensure quality, ZTDA is working on internal standardisation of the services as well as tourist products.
As ZTDA is promoting community-based tourism and eco-tourism in particular, we pay attention to the ecological aspects by creating relevant tour packages and capacity building activities – we have also initiated ecological actions at the community level.
Our philosophy
ZTDA - Association
It is not by chance that the Zerafshan Tourism Development Association has "Development” in its name. Involving the local inhabitants into tourism development, ZTDA aims to improve the well-being of the local communities – to reduce poverty, create new jobs, and at the same time conserve the fragile environment of the region as well as preserve the cultural heritage.
The ZTDA works keeping in mind the four following principles:
v Participation of the local communities in ZTDA activities;
v Financial Transparency and Transparency in the activity of all members of ZTDA;
v Supporting local initiatives and maintaining development of the Tourism Initiative Groups;
v Conservation of the natural environment and cultural heritage.
ZTDA – Community Based Tourism Operator
No one can express the beauty of the Zerafshan Valley better than the mountains, lakes and rivers of the Zerafshan Valley.
No one knows Zerafshan Valley better than its inhabitants
The usual ZTDA tour is a combination of walking/hiking/trekking in the natural environment, combined with exploration of local culture and traditions. All the services included in the tour package are delivered by local services providers in an environmentally friendly way.
In conducting the tour, guides, drivers and other service providers pay attention to the ecology. We also provide our tourists with some ecological, cultural and social tips for their travel, enabling them not only to find easily a common language with local people, but also to help to conserve the natural environment and local cultural heritage.
We are convinced that the best way to explore local culture is to experience the way of life of the people from inside, from within the community, by staying at traditional home stays, exploring the village, enjoying folklore shows organised by villagers, getting to know old techniques of handicraft production, and visiting holy places and archaeological sites with the villagers.
