The Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies (IMRS) under Uzbekistan’s Cabinet of Ministers has completed a tourism master plan for the Boyqong‘ir valley in Bakhmal district, drawing on German cluster development practices and local field research. The plan targets new investment, job creation and a shift from seasonal visits to year-round tourism around the district’s mountainous areas and advanced agricultural zones.
Boyqong‘ir tourism master plan
IMRS specialists applied lessons learned during a 2023 training workshop organised by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Baden-Württemberg. Those strategic planning and territorial development methods informed a bottom-up process that combined public-private dialogue, an on-the-ground survey of 303 residents (including 50 entrepreneurs), and Google Trends analysis of visitor seasonality.
Based on that analysis, the plan prioritises four development areas: medical tourism, sports and mountain tourism, ecotourism and agritourism. A set of 38 project ideas were designed against sustainability, job creation potential, reduction of seasonal dependence and interconnectivity criteria. Of those, 10 were selected as pilot initiatives for early implementation.
Four large investment pilots were identified as anchor projects. These include a sanatorium focussing on respiratory treatment, a resort and hotel complex for wellness and recreation, a sports complex with hotel facilities for athletes, and a recreational zone featuring a cable car, zip lines, observation towers, retail outlets and food courts. Together, these projects are intended to broaden the district’s appeal beyond the spring and summer months.
The master plan estimates infrastructure and utility network costs at US$7.4 million. Officials anticipate that this public spending will leverage roughly US$40 million in private investment — about 5.4 times the initial outlay. The programme envisages offering 19 hectares of land at auction, creating more than 300 permanent jobs and delivering a more sustainable tourist flow through autumn and winter; during spring and summer tourist numbers are expected to rise by seven to ten times compared with current levels.
Environmental stewardship is a stated priority. Project selection emphasised low-impact development and connectivity between assets to limit ecological disruption while improving visitor access. The plan also aims to integrate neighbouring mountainous areas, notably Zomin, into a single tourism chain to distribute benefits across the region.
Authorities used a participatory approach when identifying and prioritising projects. Local entrepreneurs and residents contributed ideas and feedback during the social survey and consultations, helping to shape proposals that respond to community needs and employment goals. The use of Germany’s cluster approach reflects an effort to cluster complementary services and attractions so that each investment strengthens others in the area.
Next steps include finalising pilot project documentation, preparing infrastructure tenders and marketing the investment opportunities to domestic and international investors. If the projections hold, the master plan could accelerate economic diversification in Bakhmal district, support rural employment, and help position the Boyqong‘ir valley as a year-round tourism destination within Uzbekistan’s growing travel market.
IMRS and local authorities are expected to monitor pilot outcomes closely and adjust measures to maintain environmental standards while maximising social and economic returns.
Key Takeaways:
- IMRS has developed the Boyqong‘ir tourism master plan to expand medical, sports, eco- and agritourism and reduce seasonality.
- Plan uses Germany’s cluster development practices and a bottom-up public-private approach, producing 38 projects and 10 pilots.
- Expected infrastructure spending of US$7.4m aims to unlock about US$40m in private investment and create over 300 permanent jobs.
