DUSAHNBE, May 4, Asia-Plus -- The rest in the health resorts in Tajikistan is supposed to rise in prices on average by 30 percent this summer, Asia-Plus has learned from Muqim Hikmatov, the head of the republican unit for management of health resorts of Tajikistan ’s Trade Unions Federation.  

According to him, rising prices of fuel and foodstuffs have led to a 30-percent increase in the prices of applications for a place in health resort.  

“For example, the price of application for a place for a 12-day rest in the health resort “Khoja Obi Garm” has risen from 190 Somonis to 253 Somonis, with similar price rises in other resorts in the republic,” said Hikmatov, “In the resorts “Shohambari”, “Ura Teppa”, “Khavotag” and “Obi Garm” the price of the application for a place for the 12-day rest has risen from 150 Somonis to 193 Somonis.” 

According to information from the Ministry of Economy and Trade (MET), Tajikistan is mainly attractive for foreign tourists in connection with mountaineering, mountain tourism, bike and automotive travels, as well as foot routes.  

The MET source says the price of ordering for helicopter has risen from US$1,505 per hour in 2005 to US$1,700 per hour this year.   

According to specialists, more than 14,000 foreign tourists from Europe, Asia and America visited Tajikistan last year, and 16,500 Tajiks traveled to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, China, France, the Great Britain, Russia and Kyrgyzstan in 2005 for commercial purposes and making Hajj (holy journey) in 2005.   

The MET source says that at present 65 tourism agencies are operating in Tajikistan .