Tourism specialists

Tourism strategy advisor

Tajikistan suffers from an undeservedly poor image internationally in regards to business and tourism.  The country has significantly improved its ‘Doing Business’ rating but is at the earliest stages of private sector development. The city of Khojand is more mercantile and this FEZ is a trailblazer for others around the country and currently we have a VSO volunteer working to help develop business plans to expand businesses in the area. We are now looking for a very experienced tourism specialist to help the FEZ to pioneer responsible tourism and hospitality development in the historic city of Khojand to enable to generation of more business and employment opportunities in to Central Asia’s poorest countries. Working with staff at the FEZ, you’ll provide technical tourism business development support to develop a realistic strategy for tourism and hospitality development.

What does the role involve?

• Support FEZ staff to improve their understanding of tourism and hospitality sector.

• Assess the potential for tourism and hospitality development in the FEZ and wider city of Khojand.

• Identify the conditions necessary for the development of a successful tourism sector in Khojand that contribute to poverty reduction.

• Develop your understanding of the local context of the FEZ, its priorities, policy and the practice and needs of the local private sector.

• Deliver recommendations regarding developments of infrastructure, economic conditions, investment and services to nurture effective tourism and hospitality development.

• Facilitate links between Sugd and potential investors, in line with guidance of the FEZ.
  

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll have a degree in business development, tourism development or a related field and at least 3 years experience of working at a senior level in the tourism sector. You’ll have an excellent understanding of business management and organisational development paired with experience of raising investment or funding for tourism development. You’ll share your practical knowledge of the management of hotels, restaurants, tour companies, travel agencies and tour companies with government actors on tourism on tourism strategy and development, helping them to develop relevant marketing and communication resources. It will be useful if the volunteer has some Tajik or Russian language, but translation will be provided.

And the rest...

Khojand is a very safe city which has been better developed than many other parts of Tajikistan. People in Tajikistan tend to dress smartly and conservatively both at and outside work.  The best and cheapest place to go on food shopping and miscellaneous, especially for fruits and vegetables, is markets (bazaar), which are central and easily accessible, although you may prefer to go to local shops.  Khojand has one of the most celebrated bazaars in the region and produce is very affordable and of good quality. Khojand also benefits from a number of museums, easy access to the mountains, a river, parks and a range of cultural centres including theatres and a regional library.

We’ll ask you to commit 12 months to make a sustainable contribution to development goals and in return we’ll provide you with invaluable training before your placement, a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation and insurance. When you return to your home country we’ll help you resettle and we’ll invite you to stay involved with us through campaigning, development awareness raising and fundraising.

Reference number (please quote in your application form: TAJ0040/0003/0001)

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