Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- From 10 to 12 August 2021, a training on “Development of Sustainable Eco and Rural Tourism in Karakalpakstan” will take place in Nukus, Karakalpakstan, organized by the UNESCO Tashkent Office in close cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Uzbekistan in the framework of the Joint Programme “Addressing the urgent human insecurities in the Aral Sea region through promoting sustainable rural development”.

The main goal of the training is to strengthen the capacity of the representatives of the Main Department of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, entrepreneurs, specialists of the specially protected natural areas, museum professionals, tour operators, local communities and activists and other stakeholders in the field of development of ecological and rural tourism.

The training will be conducted by Ms. Ivanna Lebedeva, the specialist of eco- and geo-tourism, president of the National Association of Rural and Eco-Tourism (Russia), and Ms. Svetlana Kopylova, the specialist in the field of rural tourism, the director of the Agency for the Development of Rural Initiatives (Russia).

During this hybrid training (online/offline), the experts will share their experience and successful practices in creating competitive tourism products of eco and rural tourism, organizing staff interaction between specially protected natural areas and local communities, as well as the experience in arranging the work of local tourism clusters. Special attention will be given to income-generating activities from the involvement of rural population in tourism development.

Within the framework of the training’s practical part, the participants will develop the specific ideas for tourism products in the field of ecological and rural tourism of Karakalpakstan, with the focus on involving of local communities in this process.

The UNDP and UNESCO Joint Programme “Addressing the urgent human insecurities in the Aral Sea region through promoting sustainable rural development” is funded by UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea region in Uzbekistan (MPHSTF).

The aim of the project is to address the environmental, social and economic insecurities in the most vulnerable communities of the Aral Sea region through comprehensive solutions in addressing the environmental issues, promoting access to basic services, improving the living standards and developing sustainable tourism in Karakalpakstan. Moreover, the project’s objective is to enhance the social wellbeing of the rural population, including women and youth, through expanding income generation opportunities and promoting inclusive sustainable growth of the tourism sector in Karakalpakstan, built on community-based and eco-tourism in the Aral Sea region.