Silk Road CBT Initiative: Connecting Central Asian Community-Based Tourism and European Markets

The regional project will run from January 2020 until January 2023 in Uzbekistan (lead country), Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and involving stakeholders from Turkmenistan. The objective is to boost investments, private sector development and promote economic diversification, by strengthening the community-based tourism (CBT) sector that is considered one of the high potential sectors to stimulate inclusive growth. To achieve its objectives, the project will bolster the competitiveness of CBT small businesses (MSMEs), through reinforcing the capacities of Community-Based Tourism Associations (CBTAs) to function as effective Business Intermediary Organizations (BIOs). The project will widen BIOs' service portfolios, while improving MSMEs' access to finance for service upgrades. The CBT sector growth will be boosted through regional integration and promotion of Central Asia as a regionally branded tourism destination.