Asian flavor: flights between Kazan and Dushanbe resume

From the beginning of August, direct flights from Kazan to Dushanbe will resume. Experts believe that flights are primarily intended not for the development of the tourism industry,

From August 4, Somon Air will resume direct flights between Kazan and Dushanbe. Flights will be operated on Thursdays on Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which are designed for 189 seats, the press service of Kazan International Airport reports.

Departure from the capital of the republic is scheduled for 21:00, arrival in Dushanbe at 2:45 the next day. The return flight from the capital of Tajikistan is scheduled for 18:00, arrival in Kazan at 19:30 (local time is indicated for each airport, in Tajikistan it is 2 hours ahead of Moscow time).

Air traffic between the cities of the Russian Federation and Tajikistan was suspended due to the covid-19 pandemic . The resumption in connection with the stabilization of the situation became known on February 10 this year.

Rustem Tarzimanov, sales DIRECTOR of the Salavat City Center tourist services bureau, believes that the resumption of the flight program between Kazan and Dushanbe is aimed not at developing the tourism industry between the countries, but at transporting migrant workers.

“This flight is definitely not set up with the aim of increasing tourism, moreover, it is unlikely that tourists from Tajikistan will flock to RUSSIA, and vice versa. Basically, it is needed so that the citizens of Tajikistan come to Russia to work,” said Tarzimanov.

He noted that Tajikistan is not a popular tourist destination among Kazan citizens. Uzbekistan is in much greater demand. Of the total number of passenger traffic from Uzbekistan, only 10-15% are tourists, while Tajikistan receives "a fraction of a percent."

“I am not a great specialist in Tajikistan, but I can say that from a tourist point of view, this direction, at least, is not promoted and is not well known. I don't know if there is anything interesting there. Of course, in any country you can find something that will attract a massive tourist flow, but now this direction is absolutely undeveloped, ”Tarzimanov said.

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Sergey Pasechnik, the HEAD of Companion SP travel agency, also believes that from a tourist point of view, Dushanbe is unknown and of little interest to Tatarstan residents. 

“Of course, you can find something exotic there too, but there is very little advertising and information in this direction. There are no operators that offer a ready-made, interesting program with clear logistics so that people can see, calculate, evaluate their capabilities and make a decision. You can write a beautiful oriental fairy tale, but for this you need to go there and find out all the possibilities of this direction, and on the other side there must be responsible and creative people who are ready to accept, ”explained Pasechnik.

On August 1, President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov at a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tajikistan to Russia Davlatshokh Gulmakhmadzoda noted that the existing opportunities for cooperation are not being used to the full extent, and it needs to be activated.

Tatarstan, according to him, is interested in cooperation through Kamaz, promotion of petrochemical products, expansion of the presence of other companies of the Republic of Tatarstan in the Tajik market. In addition, Minnikhanov singled out mechanical engineering, agriculture, healthcare, and informatization among the priority areas of cooperation. Thus, the republic is ready to supply helicopters, agricultural machinery, oil and gas equipment, tires, food products, including halal, to Tajikistan.

Tatarstan, in turn, is interested in supplies from Tajikistan, primarily agricultural products, melons and so on.

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