Written by Boris Sahakyan, the founder of Arara Tour 

The Caucasus and Central Asia: What are these regions about? 

The Caucasus and Central Asia are two unique regions that have recently become increasingly attractive to tourists. They have much in common due to centuries of intertwined history, including the Silk Road and Soviet past, geographical proximity, and a shared cultural heritage. Yet, each country has its own unique traditions and highlights. Lying between Eastern Europe and Western Asia the Caucasus includes three neighboring countries: Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. Central Asia in its turn is located at the crossroads of Eurasia and includes Five Stans: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.  

So, what makes this land so attractive? Tourists are drawn by the rich cultural heritage, mountain nature, authentic national cuisine, deep-rooted traditions of hospitality, and the historical connection to the Great Silk Road. For thousands of years, the vast lands of the Caucasus and Central Asia have served as important crossroads of trade connecting East and West. That’s why history buffs often choose combined tours to both regions to fully plunge into the atmosphere of Silk Road and follow in the footsteps of ancient traders.  

Despite similarities, each country has its own unique characteristics and highlights. Being one of the first countries to adopt Christianity as state religion, Armenia is proud of its ancient churches set high in the mountains. Georgia is known as a cradle of winemaking with wine history stretching back over 8,000 years meanwhile Azerbaijan boasts traditions of carpet weaving and sericulture. In Uzbekistan travelers can plunge into the oriental fairy tale in Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. Kyrgyzstan will surprise with its nomadic traditions, yurt life and the beauty of high-altitude landscapes. Kazakhstan in its turn is the land of endless steppes and nomads. Landlocked Tajikistan known as the Roof of the World stuns with its snow-peaked mountains and Turkmenistan is less discovered land with white marble capital and world renown Gates of Hell.  

Responsible Travel as a Solution to New Challenges 

Growing interest in these regions creates new challenges. The increased number of tourists contributes to economic development, creation of new jobs, and supports growth of local businesses. However, an insufficiently thought-out approach can place pressure on natural areas and historical monuments. So, what is the solution?  

The answer lies in responsible travel. It is not only about environmental protection – this approach encourages using local services, supporting family-owned businesses, respecting cultural norms, caring for nature, and creating opportunities for local residents to directly benefit from tourism development.  

Responsible travel is not yet very developed in the Caucasus and Five Stans, but over the past 6-7 years, there has been significant progress in the Caucasus countries. One of the main challenges is the lack of awareness among travelers and tour agencies, limited infrastructure and the regions’ scale and diversity. Eight countries represent different approaches to tourism development. As a result, there can be no single model of responsible tourism that applies equally to all of them. 

Thus, large tourism companies have an important role to play. Fortunately, more and more local tour operators are beginning to recognize the importance of this approach, and the regions are entering a new era of responsible tourism development. 

In Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan responsible tourism means reaching beyond the luxury city centers and supporting communities. A small family-run guesthouse instead of a large international chain, dinner at a local family instead of a standard restaurant, purchasing a product directly from an artisan, and participating in master classes on preparing local dishes or on carpet-weaving – these are steps that are slowly becoming part of journeys through Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. 

In Central Asia, responsible tourism must address other challenges. The ecosystems of the steppes, deserts and high plateaus require a respectful approach. Respect for nomadic traditions is equally essential. A multi-country expedition across all Five Stans requires careful logistical planning to minimize environmental impact. 

Ultimately, responsible travel in the Caucasus and Central Asia is a conscious approach to travel, ensuring the impact we leave behind won’t harm future generations and helping preserve the magic of the Silk Road for centuries. 

About Arara Tour 

Arara Tour is a tour operator and destination management company in the Caucasus and Five Stans specializing in creating immersive, carefully thought-out tours to Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The company has its own local agencies in all the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia. This gives a significant advantage in organizing cross-country tours as it eliminates double profiting, provides a high level of quality, and gives an opportunity to quickly resolve any issues directly on-site. Having the own agencies also allows to effectively manage and follow the tour process at every stage. Arara Tour positions itself as а responsible tour operator with the tours designed to promote and support local communities, preserve cultural heritage, and minimize environmental impact. The company works with local hotels and guesthouses, family-run restaurants, producers of authentic local products like dried-fruits or cheese, small boutique wine yards and others. Arara is also a proud member of USTOA. For more information, visit www.araratour.com  or contact by email info@araratour.com. 

The post The New Era of Responsible Travel in the Caucasus and Central Asia  appeared first on USTOA Blog.

Jared Alster is Vice President of Marketing for Cox & Kings, the Americas, and a travel industry veteran. Before his role at Cox & Kings, Jared was co-founder and VP Marketing for StrideTravel, the largest marketplace site for multi-day tours and adventure trips. Prior to that, he was head of marketing for Intrepid Travel, the world’s largest adventure travel company.

The world is getting smaller. Never before in history have so many far-flung destinations been so accessible by so many travelers. The conglomeration of long-haul air routes and a desire for “social-media-worthy” experiences has led people to visit places that were completely off the map in previous generations.

This results in a challenge for tour operators: how to uncover new, untouched areas of the globe with the infrastructure to support tourism.

Armenia is one of these places.

Blue Mosque

Located in the Caucasus between Asia and Europe, Armenia is ripe for opportunity as a tourist destination. A similar trend was recently witnessed in neighboring Georgia, with tourism arrivals increasing to a record 8.7 million in 2018. Compare that with Armenia, with 2018 estimated total tourist arrivals of only 1.6 million, and the opportunity for tourism to play an outsized role in GDP production is obvious.

With thousands of years of rich history, beautiful and rugged landscape that begs for adventure, and a dynamic capital city, Armenia is ready for prime time.

Here are the top 3 reasons to visit this emerging destination:

1. Unmatched History: 

One could write an entire article alone on Armenia’s historical significance. With three current UNESCO World Heritage sites, and another four pending, Armenia is a history buff’s paradise, without the crowds.

First up is The Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots, the former which dates back to AD 301. The “central-dome” architectural style is common throughout the country and is on wide display in the city of Echmiatsin.

The Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, added to the UNESCO list in 1996 and 2000, respectively, are Byzantine-era structures built during the Kiurikian dynasty in the 10^th to 13^th century. These perfectly intact structures were once important centers of learning, with a focus on schools for calligraphers.

Monastery of Geghard

Last but definitely not least is the Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley. The monastery contains a series of churches and tombs cut naturally into the surrounding rock. The area is one of great natural beauty, with soaring cliffs signifying the entrance to the Azat Valley in Armenia’s eastern reaches.

2.  An Outdoor Paradise: 

With mountainous terrain, free flowing rivers, and tons of fresh air for everyone, Armenia is an emerging adventure destination in its own right. Hikers will have the trails to themselves in Dilijan National Park, which is home to the newest section of the Transcaucasian Trail (TCT). When the feet get sore, retreat to the village of the same name and soak in restorative natural hot springs.

Tsakhkadzor 

Skiing is serious business in Armenia and the resort of Tsakhkadzor is where to carve your turns. The mountain, only about an hour from the capital of Yerevan, rises to over 9,000 feet, where the snow is plentiful and powdery.

With 300 days of sunshine, (similar to Denver, CO) good weather is almost guaranteed to enjoy Armenia’s natural riches.

3. Yerevan:

Yerevan is Armenia’s capital city and the jumping off point for any tour of Armenia. Known as the ‘city of cafes,’ Yerevan does a terrific job of blending the old with the new.

Republic Square

Founded in 782 BC, Yerevan now features areas like vibrant Northern Avenue, with high-end boutiques and boisterous cafes and nightclubs. A somber visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial is an important stop on any city tour of Yerevan. From there, travelers can visit the Blue Mosque, (the sole Mosque in all of Armenia) and Republic Square, which provides a focal point while touring and much of the city’s buzz.

Newer hotels, like the Marriott Yerevan, add a bit of comfort and familiarity to your stay.

Discover Armenia on Cox & Kings’ new 2019 private journey “Armenia & Georgia: Past and Present.”

With a history spanning more than 260 years, Cox & Kings is the world’s most enduring luxury travel brand. Today, the company’s U.S. business provides travelers with exquisite luxury journeys worldwide. Specialized destination teams share their extensive local product knowledge and offer extraordinary insider access. Together, they create private custom and small-group experiences to the world’s most exotic destinations. 

The post 3 Reasons Why Armenia Needs To Be On Your Bucket List appeared first on USTOA Blog.