Along the Oxus, Tajikistan - The Financial Times

Tajikistan, once part of the Silk Road and a stage for geopolitical rivalries, is now seeking to grow its tourism industry, with significant investments planned. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has derailed many of these plans, with border closures and quarantines stalling tourism growth. Despite the lack of infrastructure and tourism, the hospitality of the Tajik people and their connection to their land are evident. However, the country faces economic challenges, with 27% of the population living below the poverty line, and efforts to boost tourism through initiatives like e-visas and homestays have been hindered by the pandemic. In the Pamir Mountains, along the Afghan border and the Panj River (the historical Oxus), there are opportunities and difficulties faced by local communities, attempting to balance the complex relationship between big-game hunting and conservation, particularly efforts to protect species like the snow leopard and the markhor.