The Dark Side of Tourism in Uzbekistan: "It Could Be the Venice of the Desert"
The Dark Side of Tourism in Uzbekistan: "It Could Be the Venice of the Desert"
Uzbekistan's ambitious tourism initiative has the potential to transform the country's historic cities into a "Venice of the Desert" in the long term. Initial plans reported in the local press suggest the recreation of traditional Uzbek buildings like tea houses, but the reality on the ground is very different. The 3D drawings plastered on high walls surrounding construction areas depict modern shopping malls and sparkling fountains adorned with abstract art.
The government of Uzbekistan is pursuing an ambitious tourism expansion. However, historians in the country believe that this could lead to negative outcomes in the long run.
According to the British broadcaster BBC, new hotels are being built all around the streets of Bukhara.
"THE ONLY MARKETING LEVER IS THE SILK ROAD"
In many regions, from the capital Tashkent to the historic city of Khiva, heritage sites are now intertwined with hotels.
Svetlana Gorshenina from AlerteHeritage, an organization aiming to preserve the country's historic sites, said, "The Silk Road concept is being applied everywhere. Restaurants, shops, tours, travel agencies... This has become our only marketing lever. It's a kind of self-orientalism."
Over the last five years, Uzbekistan has climbed 16 spots, reaching 78th place out of 119 countries in terms of tourist visits.
THEY WANT TO PROMOTE UZBEK CULTURE
Efforts are being made in restaurants and cafes to showcase the national cuisine, and in museums to promote Uzbek culture.
On the outskirts of the old city, an entertainment complex called "Eternal Bukhara" will be built. Initial plans reported in the local press described it as an "ethnographic park" that would recreate traditional Uzbek buildings like tea houses.
HOTELS, SHOPPING, AND ABSTRACT ART
However, the 3D drawings plastered on the high walls surrounding the construction site show instead modern shopping malls and sparkling fountains adorned with abstract art.
Tourism companies also plan to build a series of five-star hotels with up to 700 rooms within the facility.
"IT RISKS BECOMING THE VENICE OF THE DESERT"
An Uzbek architect raised concerns about the negative consequences that the tourism boom could bring, stating, "Every year more tourists come. I’ve always thought of Bukhara as a living organism. This organism is becoming weaker and more fragile. It shouldn’t be just a place for tourists, the people living there should be considered too. It risks becoming the Venice of the Desert."
Additionally, medical facilities will also be constructed to cater to a new type of tourist Uzbekistan is trying to attract: visitors coming for affordable healthcare, ranging from dentistry to plastic surgery.