Tajikistan is advancing a series of initiatives aimed at improving roadside services and expanding tourism infrastructure as the country prepares for the 35th anniversary of its state independence, with officials outlining plans that include mandatory sanitary facilities at roadside businesses, additional campgrounds and glamping sites, improved communications in remote tourism areas, and upgrades to border crossings.
During a press conference in Dushanbe, Jamshed Jurakhonzoda, chairman of the Committee for Tourism Development under the Government of Tajikistan, announced that the committee has prepared a draft government resolution that would require gas stations, roadside cafés, and other businesses located along major highways to provide restrooms and sanitary facilities. The proposal is currently under review by government ministries and agencies.
“We have prepared a draft government resolution on the mandatory availability of sanitary facilities at all locations — whether food service establishments or gas stations,” he told AsiaPlus.
If approved, the regulation would make sanitary facilities a mandatory operating requirement for roadside businesses throughout the country. According to Jurakhonzoda, establishments that fail to comply with the new standards could be prohibited from operating.
“On all major highways, everywhere businesses establish facilities, this will be a mandatory requirement. If sanitary conditions are not in place, the facility will not be able to operate in accordance with the requirements of this resolution,” the committee chairman noted.
Jurakhonzoda acknowledged that restroom availability remains a challenge across many of Tajikistan’s highways, including the Dushanbe–Khujand corridor.
“I agree that the problem on the main roads and highways still exists,” he stated.
He said improvements are gradually being introduced as more entrepreneurs invest in customer amenities. Restrooms have been added at several gas stations and roadside businesses in Dushanbe, Kulyab, and along the route toward Varzob, while some locations along the Dushanbe–Kulyab highway have also introduced updated sanitary facilities.
“I saw what conditions our domestic entrepreneurs have created. This process is underway. Business understands that comfortable conditions must be created: if they are not there, neither will the customers be,” he said.
According to Jurakhonzoda, three locations along the Dushanbe–Kulyab road now offer modern sanitary facilities, although he acknowledged additional investment is still needed.
“This is not enough, but nevertheless, modern conditions have already been created at three locations,” Jurakhonzoda emphasized.
Government working groups representing multiple ministries have also been inspecting tourism and roadside infrastructure throughout the country. While discussing those efforts, Jurakhonzoda said the current moratorium on business inspections has reduced oversight in some cases.
“I don’t mean to offend the business community, but some are taking slight advantage of the fact that the moratorium is in effect. Business must feel a sense of responsibility,” Jurakhonzoda said.
Beyond roadside improvements, the committee reported continued investment in accommodations across the country, including hotels, hostels, campgrounds, recreation areas, and glamping developments.
“Over the past year, new conditions are being created in virtually all regions of our country: hotels, campgrounds, and glamping sites are appearing. This is encouraging to us,” he noted.
Officials said domestic investors continue to play a significant role in tourism development, with the Committee for Tourism Development and the State Committee on Investments and State Property Management jointly preparing 10 tourism investment projects that are being promoted to prospective investors during forums, exhibitions, and other industry events.
Jurakhonzoda identified the Khovaling district as one example of tourism investment, describing the area as an emerging tourism cluster with hotels and supporting visitor infrastructure. He also noted that preparations for Tajikistan’s 35th anniversary of state independence have encouraged local governments to incorporate hotels, parks, recreation facilities, and tourism amenities into development plans.
The committee is also working with the Communications Service to improve mobile coverage in remote tourism destinations.
Officials have submitted a list of priority tourism zones where service needs to be strengthened, while satellite-based Starlink connectivity is being considered for locations where traditional telecommunications infrastructure is not economically practical. According to the committee, communication quality across major tourism areas is expected to improve by the end of the year.
Additional efforts are focused on modernizing border crossings as visitor arrivals increase. A working group that includes representatives from the tourism committee, Ministry of Transport, Customs Service, and other agencies has evaluated checkpoint capacity and prepared recommendations for infrastructure upgrades. Jurakhonzoda said he hopes key improvements can be completed within the next year.
The committee also outlined plans to restore two damaged bridges that provide access through the Vanj district to the Tajikistan Glacier, formerly known as the Fedchenko Glacier and later as the Vanjyakh Glacier.
“We are working to restore these bridges. If this can be done, the number of tourists visiting this destination will increase significantly,” Jurakhonzoda stated.
For campground, caravan park, RV park, and glamping operators, Tajikistan’s approach highlights how basic visitor amenities—including clean restrooms, reliable communications, and accessible transportation infrastructure—are increasingly being treated as essential components of tourism development.
As governments invest in destination infrastructure, private operators may also find opportunities to differentiate their businesses by aligning with evolving service standards and participating in broader regional tourism initiatives.