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DE RUEHAH #0769/01 1691228
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 181228Z JUN 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2997
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000769 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN:  AVAZA NATIONAL TOURIST ZONE OPENS 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov 
officially opened the Avaza National Tourism Zone on June 15, 
accompanied by the government, the diplomatic corps, 
businessmen, and international journalists.  "Avaza" consists 
currently of two hotels.  Although plans are for an 
artificial river, an indoor ski resort, a race car track, an 
amusement park, fountains, and artificial islands, it is a 
long, long way from the Turkmen Las Vegas officials claim it 
will become.  Between a projected $1500/week price tag for 
hotel stays and Turkmenistan's restrictive visa regime, few 
foreign tourists may actually make their way to Avaza. 
Turkmen officials admit that foreign tourists, if they come, 
will likely only come once.  On the bright side, the opening 
featured, a real press conference with international 
journalists, unprescreened questions, and reasonably 
professional answers, as well as a real pop concert, 
featuring international (FSU) stars, gyrating in the same 
skimpy outfits they would wear anywhere.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) On June 15, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov 
officially opened the new facilities in the Avaza National 
Tourism Zone, located just north of Turkmenbashy.  As per 
usual for presidential provincial travel, Berdimuhamedov was 
accompanied by high government officials, the diplomatic 
corps, and businessmen.  In a break from the past, 
international journalists were also on this trip.  In his 
speech, Berdimuhamedov said that Avaza is the first free 
economic zone in the country aimed at development of the 
tourism industry.  He said that all investors, both local and 
foreign, are provided with significant tax breaks and customs 
privileges.  Berdimuhamedov said that total cost of the 
facilities under construction already exceeded $1.5 billion. 
During the next or second phase of development, another 10-15 
world class sanitoria will be built as well as aqua parks, 
yacht and sports clubs, restaurants, camping areas 
attractions, and shopping centers.  Construction has already 
started on a long artificial river that will transverse the 
resort as well as on a new airport terminal in Turkmenbashy. 
Berdimuhamedov asserted that new highways, gas turbine power 
stations, water purification facilities, and water pipes are 
also under construction and Turkmenbashy seaport will be 
renovated.  Berdimuhamedov said Avaza will become a Turkmen 
Las Vegas with numerous casinos and other entertainment 
centers. 
 
TURKMEN LAS VEGAS? 
 
¶3. (SBU) Although Berdimuhamedov bragged that Avaza will 
become like Las Vegas, there is little there now that hints 
it will ever really become a world-class, highly popular 
resort.  The only buildings in Avaza are two hotels - the 
Watanchy (owned by the Ministry of Defense) and the Hazyna 
Hotel (owned by the Central Bank).  The President only 
inaugurated one building in person - the Watanchy - and 
opened the Hazyna and the Charbak (in Turkmenbashy - owned by 
the Ministry of Water Management) - remotely by video 
conference.  And while the Watanchy and Hazyna are nice 
hotels, there is little else.  The Watanchy was particularly 
luxurious, replete with mineral bath and offices for medical 
specialists.  However, one has to wonder if guests really 
want to go to Avaza to see a gynecologist or cardiologist. 
Nevertheless, the beach was dirty.  It was not grated and the 
sea by the shore was full of seaweed.  There was little to 
entice guests to lay on the beach or swim along the shore. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) And while the rooms in the hotels were nice, it was 
all a bit "Potemkin."  Meals were provided to the government 
officials, diplomats, businessfolk, and journalists buffet 
style, so there was no opportunity to try out restaurant 
meals and check prices.  There was a 24-hour open bar.  The 
wait staff flew in Ashgabat with the guests and returned to 
the capital with them as well.  As soon as the two-day 
official opening ended, the hotels shut down and the lights 
were turned off in Avaza. 
 
 
ASHGABAT 00000769  002 OF 003 
 
 
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS 
 
¶5. (SBU) On June 15, Bedimuhamedov and his guests listened to 
a number of presentations by companies hoping to participate 
in phase two.  These included the company hoping to build the 
race track, an indoor ski resort, an artificial island shaped 
like Turkmenistan, a 25-hectare amusement park, a series of 
sea fountains, a shopping center, sanatoria, an irrigation 
system, and more hotels.  After the presentation (these 
projects were obviously vetted beforehand), Berdimuhamedov 
pronounced them good and signed the orders authorizing them. 
Afterward, the President was given the key to the city. 
 
A REAL PRESS CONFERENCE 
 
¶6. (SBU) One interesting development during the tourist zone 
opening ceremonies was that Turkmen officials held a very 
real press conference.  Approximately 40 foreign journalists 
were present, including representatives from Associated 
Press.  There were no pre-screened questions.  Deputy Foreign 
Minister Komekov, and representatives from the Ministry of 
Nature Protection, Oil and Gas Ministry, and Migration 
Service took questions on environmental impact statements, 
visas, Turkmenistan's economic potential, the feasibility of 
the Avaza project, cost of a tourist package ($1500/week!), 
the budget for ads to attract tourists, and the number of 
tourists they expect to attract. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The most interesting question was from a journalist 
from the Russian newspaper Kommersant.  She noted the 
importance of the oil and gas sector and how revenue from 
that sector is used to fund the Avaza project.  She then 
asked for the state of negotiations with Gazprom, whose 
Chairman of the Board of Governor's, Aleksey Miller was 
visiting, and what this meant for relations with Russia.  The 
official from the Ministry of Oil and Gas gave a very skilled 
non-answer.  The official from Migration Service, however, 
was a bit flustered and was obviously not used to answering 
real questions.  When a visitor from Austria asked how 
Turkmenistan hoped to attract Austrian tourists when the visa 
regime was so difficult.  The Migration Service official said 
the law was the same for everyone, and there was no special 
visa regime for different countries. 
 
AND A REAL CONCERT 
 
¶8. (SBU) Two official concerts were held to commemorate the 
opening.  The President attended the one on the first night. 
In addition to local artists, there were also a number of pop 
singers that are famous throughout the FSU, including 
Russia's Philip Kirkorov and Zara, Ukraine's Ani Lorak, and 
Uzbekistan's Firuza Jumaniyazova.  The more interesting of 
the two concerts took place the second night.  Although it 
was held in the concert hall in Turkmenbashy under official 
auspices, with several Deputy Chairmen and ministers in 
attendance, it was more like a concert you would see 
elsewhere in the world.  The artists gyrated in skimpy 
costumes.  They tried to involve audience participation, 
attempting to get the audience to sing along with them.  The 
audience members clapped wildly for the foreign performers 
(all of whom noted this was their first time in 
Turkmenistan).  Large numbers of those present, especially 
young people, waved their hands in the air or got up and 
danced at their seats.  The sense of freedom and enjoyment 
was palpable.  This was all a first for Turkmenistan.  And 
even more groundbreaking, the concert was later broadcast on 
national television. 
 
¶9. (SBU) COMMENT:  Avaza is a long way from being a tourist 
mecca and may never be one.  It is unlikely it will ever be 
able to compete with Turkey or even Sochi.  Officials admit 
that it is likely that only local tourists will come the 
first few years.  And, later, when there is more of an 
international clientele, foreign tourists will only come 
once.  The $1500/week price tag will scare off many potential 
 
ASHGABAT 00000769  003 OF 003 
 
 
visitors, and the restrictive visa regime will keep others 
out.  (The Turkmen have apparently given up the idea of a 
special visa zone for Avaza, realizing that anyone coming all 
the way to Turkmenistan will want to see Merv and other 
ancient sites.) 
 
¶10. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED:  As already noted, the attempts 
at press freedom and cultural freedom were the most 
interesting developments of the opening.  Hopefully, after 
seeing that the international press does not bite and more 
open press conferences do not result in embarrassment, they 
will try it again.  And we can also hope that they will 
expand cultural freedom.  The artists who performed in Avaza 
and Turkmenbashy are the same ones that people watch nightly 
on Russian MTV or other Russian television channels.  So, 
there was nothing new for the audience, except the pleasure 
of having these stars perform live.  END COMMENT. 
MILES