A big frustration
The article that was supposed to describe a rapid growth of private tourism business in Bukhara was published in the Impressions (the British Mediterranian inflight magazine). Miss Leisa Tyler a free lance Australia based writer after several month of working together with the Bukhara Association of Small Tourism Enterprise has come up with this terrible article which she called Bukhara’s Bohemian Renaissance
Im my opinion the last thing one should mention in an article that is supposed to advertise Uzbekistan as a tourist destination is politics. However miss Tyler did not miss the chance to mention the events in Andizhan and makes it clear that the Uzbek government is not very friendly with the foreign investors
RULED WITH AN IRON FIST, UZBEKISTAN’S GOVERNMENT CHASED MOST FOREIGN INVESTMENT AWAY YEARS AGO
Fortunately tourism in Uzbekistan develops apart from politics though depends on it. Private tourism business lets some Uzbek families make money for living. Whatever the political situation is the people in Bukhara for example always hope that there will be enough tourists who will buy rooms in the hotels, food in the restaurants and chaikhanas, souvenirs in the bazaars etc. So lets not represent Uzbekistan as a country of big trouble, because we know it is not. Miss Tyler I would recommend that you go visit Uzbekistan once again because many things have changed since the last time you were there. The number of hotels in Bukhara itself is now approaching 40 with another 3-5 to open shortly. The pictures that were used in the article are the lousiest one could find. The article ultimately does not even compare to the previous Uzbekistan feature in the same magazine.
on February 13th, 2006 at 11:33 pm
So how would you describe Uzbekistan’s politics Rumil? I suppose you would feel happier to pretend that the deaths of over 500 people only a few short months ago didnt actually hapen? How can you separate tourism from politics? How can you make visitors feel safe after the events of Andizhan (I mentioned Andizhan?- where?)?
I think, remembering the tourist numbers that actually were in Uzbekistan for months following the massacre (ie, none), you cant.
FYI- the article was about boutique hotels, not hotels in general. As indicated in the article, this is not about Soviet blocks, but small, intimate B&B’s. The numbers used were those given to me by the Bukhara Tourism Association.
You know when I was there do you? Oh! You also have ESP!!!
Rumil- are you a spin doctor?
on February 14th, 2006 at 3:39 am
Dear Leisa, it’s good you’ve read the post. I ain’t gonna argue with you. You’ve said what you thought. thank you for an opinion!
on February 14th, 2006 at 5:33 am
I went to Bukhara in July 2005, and from what I was able to see there was that tourist numbers stayed roughly the same, some even said that they actually increased. People told the same in Samarkand and Tashkent. Most tourists I met were aware of what happened in Andijon but were either not going to go near the Ferghana Valley or were not feeling an increased threat to their security at all.
on February 14th, 2006 at 6:53 am
Not according to the 7 hoteliers i spoke to, who all claimed numbers had plummeted. Not according to the census reports on tourism that I saw (although doubted it legitimate). Not according to one of the world’s most respected hotel groups who left several weeks after the massecre, leaving their hotel lease behind them.
“Miss tyler did not fail to mention the events at Andizhan”. Actually- if you had read the article properly instead of getting straight on your high horse you would have noticed that Andizhan was not mentioned - AT ALL.
As for foreign investment- does the truth hurt? Just where would you like to start on this subject Ramil?
And lastly- I do not write advertisments.
on February 14th, 2006 at 9:44 am
Miss Tyler I did not feel like debating with you but you seem to be into it.
Actually- if you had read the article properly instead of getting straight on your high horse you would have noticed that Andizhan was not mentioned - AT ALL
Yes you did mention it in this passage
They left shortly after a violent dispute took place between protesters and the government in the country’s contentious Ferghana Valley
According to the info I possess the number of visitors did not decrease after the Andijan events, it even grew.
As for foreign investment- does the truth hurt? Just where would you like to start on this subject Ramil
Yes dear miss Tyler, it really hurts when you put it in an article that is supposed to attract visitors to Uzbekistan not to discourage them from coming here. Whould any tourist really care about the investment policy of the country he is going to visit? I do not think so!
And I would once again reccomend that you visit Uzbekistan once again just to feel how safe it is to be a tourist in Uzbekistan. You might ignore my advice cause you do not sound like you are in love with Uzbekistan.
And the last thing just to let you know my name is Rumil nor Ramil
Thank you very much!
on February 20th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
Like it or not, tourism and politics are linked. As wel all know, beyond all the Silk Road Disney in Samarkand, Khiva etc. there is another, *very* dire reality in this country.
Even though I do not believe that a tourism boycott against Uzbekistan makes much sense, tour groups who claim they’re “not interested in politics” do become willy nilly accomplices of the regime once they are in Uzbekistan.
First, they stay in big hotels that are owned by companies linked to the pres’ daughter or regime cronies (otherwise they would not even function) and, thus, willy nilly fund the regime. Second, and more importantly, their presense gives the regime legitimacy in the following ways:
a) the regime is using the presence of tourists as a propaganda pitch to try to show the world how “everything is fine and nice and safe and under control in Uzbekistan”;
b) the tour groups are often well-framed and gulled by guides who make sure (or are told to make sure) that the tourist flock gets the official version of things. The problem is, that it works with the more stupid and gullible part of the tourists (i.e. not a few, esp. among French, Italians and Spanish) and that they, in turn, repeat the bollocks back at home.
Sorry but that is the reality.
on June 6th, 2006 at 6:18 am
Goodness, thank the lord there is somebody out there who is not half blind!
Ramil, or whatever you like to call yourself- to be honest, i couldnt care less how much you criticize me or what was published (which incidentally would have been through 3-2 subs and editors before going to print. had they found the information incorrect, or legally problematic, they would have deleted it).
As far as I am concerned, i will ALWAYS give an objective account. My purpose is not to bow to you or Uzbekistan- I owe you nothing. I came to the country independently and reported on what i found. this is what I am paid to do. The fact is that tourist numbers to Uzbekistan dropped severly after the massecre of last year. You also know this is true.
As a piece of advice, and on behalf of other travel writers, journalists and publications who choose to publish stories on Uzbekistan, do not bite the hand that feeds you, because it is very likely we will not come back. Try and see the big picture for what it is.
on June 6th, 2006 at 6:20 am
PS- I just read what Lonely Planet have to say on the countries politics- do you send them spiteful mail as well?
on November 4th, 2007 at 8:57 am
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7073388.stm