Tajikistan homestays, Zerafshan Valley
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
1. For our tours we provide tourists with a code of conduct with tips about environmental problems and things to avoid while on tour.
2. While on tour our guides always collect garbage and rubbish found on the trails and at tourism areas where we work. All the collected garbage is then disposed of in containers. In all the areas where we provide tours we have put signage "save the nature" with things to avoid.
3. In all our home stays we have put signs on water saving, especially in the shower premises. On tours no bottled water is used in order to reduce plastic waste. We also take care that traditional Tajik toilets in our home stays are built at min. 30 mt away from rivers and water sources, to avoid water pollution.
4. In some homestays solar water heaters have been installed. Every homestay has a solar cooker for small water usage.
5. All our homestays are built and decorated according to the traditional Tajik architectural style, by using local and natural materials (wood, stones,clay..).
6. The majority of our tours are trekking/walking tours in natural areas. In the mountains we only use donkeys for the transportation of tour equipment and tourists bags. This implies a reduced use of cars.
7. Every year we conclude agreements with all our service providers about environmental protection, which they commit to.
Community
1. For all our services and tours we use only local service providers and local products of the areas where the tours take place.
2. We support women living in rural areas, especially those from the poorest families or with no family at all, with project on handicraft. Through the selling of their hand-made products to tourists we provide them with further incomes.
3. We empowered local communities by including local people in the organization of tours and services. Ownership is also granted.
4. 90% of the incomes derived from the tourism activity is paid by ZTDA to our service providers. Only 10% is kept by ZTDA to cover admin costs.
5. Every year ZTDA provides its service providers with trainings and workshops on different topics, in order to increase the quality of their services and better meet the requirements of international tourists.
6. ZTDA opened two souvenir shops in the biggest centres of Tajikistan where tourists can buy hand-made, traditional Tajik products. 70% from the incomes is paid back to the handicraft people. ZTDA also cooperates with other associations on handicraft projects in order to increase the quality of the creations and create possibilities for exporting abroad Tajik, hand-made products.
7. By using only local home stays, tourists can get acquainted with local traditions and culture. We also provide tourists with information about their hosts and families, villages, a small phrase book to communicate with the host, and in the code of conduct we also provide some behavioral tips with things to avoid.
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