According to data from the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan, 296,100 foreign nationals have visited Tajikistan over the first three months of this year, which was 81.3 percent or 81,300 people more than in the same period last year.  And this is in the conditions of the closure of borders between the countries due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.       

Of those 296,100 foreign nationals, 288,400 have reportedly visited the country as tourists, which was 42,1 percent more compared to January-March last year.   

284,700 nationals of the CIS countries and 11,400 citizens of far-abroad countries have visited Tajikistan over the report period. 

The largest flow has been reported from Uzbekistan – 197,000 people.  Uzbekistan is reportedly followed by Russia – 43,200 people, Kyrgyzstan – 37,100 peoples, and Kazakhstan – 4,700 people.

As far as the far-abroad countries are concerned, 3,000 citizens of Afghanistan, 1,200 citizens of China, 900 citizens of Turkey, 500 citizens of the United States and 400 citizens of Iran have visited Tajikistan over the same three-month period.  

Meanwhile, 683,300 Tajik nationals have reportedly traveled abroad in January-March this year, which was 50.5 percent or 214,300 people more than in the same period last year. 

According to the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan, 161 tourist companies have operated in the country as of beginning of this year.  There are 184 hotels, 26 hostels and motels, 44 sanatoriums, 9 resort centers, one boarding house, one camping and three tourist bases having been operating in Tajikistan as of the beginning of this year.  

A total number of employees of entities providing tourist services has been about 232,000 people as of the beginning of the year.   

Recall, Tajikistan began closing its border with neighboring countries in late January due to coronavirus concerns.  

Tajikistan has both natural beauty and cultural richness, which appeals to tourists from all around the world. In addition, the country is relatively unexplored, and therefore considered "exotic".