During a Cabinet of Ministers meeting chaired via the digital system by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, preparations were reviewed for one of the key spring events: the international forum “TurkmenTravel–2026”, to be held in 14 to 17 April 2026.
The agenda includes specialized seminars and round‑table sessions organized jointly with the UN Tourism, along with a scientific–practical conference on innovation in the tourism industry. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov instructed that the forum be organized at a high level and that Turkmenistan’s tourism potential be presented in line with government declarations.
The forum will bring together tour operators, airlines, hospitality representatives, and experts in cultural heritage and ecotourism, 100 foreign delegates and over 60 participants from Turkmenistan’s tourism sector are expected. The business program features presentations of new tourism products, discussions on international cooperation, and showcases of modern technological solutions for tourism.
A special focus will be placed on ecotourism, ethnographic routes, and health & wellness tourism, with B2B and B2G meetings to expand cooperation between government institutions and the private sector. The event is organized by the Ministry of Culture, the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan, in partnership with Talvas Yoly and Oguz Forum & Expo.
UNESCO Sites and Heritage
Turkmenistan possesses a rich UNESCO‑inscribed heritage, including three major World Heritage cultural sites—Ancient Merv, Kunya‑Urgench, and the Parthian Fortresses of Nisa—as well as the transboundary Cold Winter Deserts of Turan and the Silk Roads: Zarafshan–Karakum Corridor. Its intangible heritage includes the traditional Turkmen carpet‑making art, the Kushtdepdi rite of singing and dancing, and dutar craftsmanship and performance—all underscoring the country’s Silk Road history and living traditions.
E‑visas and easier entry
Turkmenistan is following in the footsteps of other Central Asian countries by opening up to tourism, with a law adopted in April 2025 that introduces electronic visas and simplifies entry for foreigners. Foreigners will be able to apply via a simplified online system without a letter of invitation—a move expected to increase revenues and trade and to emulate regional success stories (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan), as reported by Travel Tomorrow.
A country of under‑explored potential
Turkmenistan has substantial untapped tourism potential. According to QRA Centre, “within the Central Asian region, Turkmenistan stands out as a country where historical continuity and natural diversity converge, yet its tourism potential remains only partially explored. The territory of Turkmenistan encompasses ancient centers of civilization, key nodes of the Silk Road, architectural monuments of the Islamic era, and unique natural landscapes, forming a solid foundation for the development of cultural and educational tourism.”
This includes natural wonders such as the Darvaza Gas Crater (“Door to Hell”) and Yangykala Canyon, alongside Silk Road heritage at Merv and Nisa. Merv is among the largest, best‑preserved oasis cities of the Silk Road, Nisa reflects early Parthian statehood, and Kunya‑Urgench showcases the achievements of Khorezm’s Islamic architecture.
@dukeandrs #darvaza #darvazacrater #crater #turkmenistan #turkmenistan🇹🇲 ♬ Keep On – Jacob Yoffee
The capital, Ashgabat, is internationally known for its white‑marble architecture and holds a Guinness World Record for the highest density of white marble‑clad buildings — an urban spectacle that itself supports city tourism.
On the Caspian coast, the Avaza National Tourist Zone offers resort tourism and business/conference facilities, and has hosted major international gatherings; Avaza is a pillar of Turkmenistan’s recreational development strategy, with hotels, parks, and leisure infrastructure, according to official sources from the Turkmen MFA and regional reporting.
According to the Turkmen MFA, “the Turkmen part of the Caspian Sea has immense potential for the development of wellness, recreation, and ecological tourism. Currently, tourism is one of the important sectors of Turkmenistan’s economy, contributing significantly to the socio-economic development of the country. The presentation ceremony of the Avaza National Tourist Zone held in June 2007 became a world-wide event and became a clear evidence of a new approach to the development of the country’s recreation and tourism system.”
The Avaza National Tourist Zone on the Caspian Sea coast in Balkan Province is cementing its reputation as one of Turkmenistan’s leading resort destinations, attracting approximately 150,000 visitors annually according to The Caspian Post.
Finally, health & balneological tourism, for example, at Mollagara and Archman sanatoria, draws on mineral waters, therapeutic muds, and specialized rehabilitation offerings. “The Mollagara resort is located near the city of Balkanabat, on the eastern shore of the ancient Uzboy, and extends to the foothills of the Great Balkan Mountains. The resort’s natural resources include therapeutic mud and mineral water rich in healing salt. The sanatorium complex includes a hospital and a medical-diagnostic building with 500 places, a beauty salon with 35 places, a hotel with 170 places, a medical-rehabilitation building, and a children’s department with 30 places. There is also a dining room with 250 places, six dormitories with 123 rooms for sanatorium staff and auxiliary facilities”,according to the government website.
Caspian Coast and cooperation with Kazakhstan
If Turkmenistan further opens tourism, together with neighboring Kazakhstan, they could transform the Caspian coast into an ideal destination for European and Asian travelers. In Kazakhstan, Aktau, the principal port city and a major tourism gateway to Mangystau’s dramatic landscapes, has seen a surge in arrivals and infrastructure development (new hotels, projects, and a planned Kendirli airport), with more than 350,000 tourists in the first nine months of 2025 and double‑digit growth, according to regional officials and media. According to Astana Times, this context suggests strong potential for complementary Caspian itineraries pairing Aktau/Mangystau with Avaza/Turkmenbashi.
Historical and Natural heritages
Turkmenistan has a lot of Natural Wonders. For example, the Darvaza Gas Crater (Karakum Desert), ca. 260 km north of Ashgabat, has burned since the early 1970s and remains the country’s best‑known visitor draw. Yangykala Canyon (“Turkmen Grand Canyon”) in the Balkan region offers multihued cliffs and remote desert scenery, usually accessed by 4×4 from Turkmenbashi or Balkanabat.“Few people have ever heard of, let alone visited, one of Turkmenistan’s most impressive natural attractions”, wrote Tony Dunnell for Atlasobscura.
The Silk Road cities of Merv, Nisa, and Kunya‑Urgench form an archaeological backbone for cultural itineraries (UNESCO World Heritage). Among the most important elements of Turkmenistan’s cultural heritage are the Akhal‑Teke horses.
Indeed, Turkmenistan is the home country of the most beautiful horses and the most beautiful carpets in the whole world.
Akhal‑Teke horse culture; the Turkmen carpet; Kushtdepdi song‑dance rite; dutar craftsmanship and performance—elements recognized by UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and readily programmable into festival or museum experiences. Turkmen carpets are widely regarded as among the most beautiful and finest in the world, recognized for their intense red colours, incredible knot density, and intricate geometric (medallion) patterns. As a UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage, they symbolize the deep, ancient nomadic traditions of the Turkmen people.
Regarding Turkmen horses, The Times of India ranks the Akhal‑Teke among the top ten most beautiful horse breeds in the world.
The French traveller Modera wrote in the 19th century: “Turkmen women are real artists, they weave the most beautiful and stronger carpets.”
“Turkmenistan has great potential to attract domestic and foreign tourists. Historical monuments shape the country’s unique image, and cultural heritage plays an important role in the development of tourism—forming a basis for tours, programs, and events. Historical records show that sites such as Ancient Anau, Merv, Nisa, Kunyaurgench, Altyn‑Depe, and Namazga‑Depe once had thriving cultures,” the Turkmenistan Government stated.
Seljuk Heritage
Seljuk history is crucial in the history of the Turkic world. The Turkmen/Oghuz/Seljuks are known for founding an empire that later paved the way for the Ottoman Empire, one of history’s greatest (Peacock, A. C., 2015; and Durdyyev & Atdayeva, 2023). (according to UNESCO).
The Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar (Merv) is one of the most famous monuments of the Seljuk era and is located in Turkmenistan. It is a masterpiece of medieval Islamic architecture, known to attract significant scholarly and tourist interest. The mausoleum contains the tomb of Ahmad Sanjar (r. 1118–1157), one of the Seljuks’ most renowned sultans. It is a large square building topped by a massive dome—once clad in turquoise tiles. The base measures 27 meters per side, and the dome rises to about 38 meters, making it visible from a great distance. The exterior brickwork, characteristic of the Seljuk style, creates a striking visual effect—according to Travel Land and qra-center.
Inside, the main chamber houses the sultan’s tomb, and the interior walls are decorated with geometric patterns and inscriptions. Built as a religious and commemorative monument, it blends functional design with expressions of divine authority and celestial symbolism. During Sanjar’s reign, Merv became one of the largest and most prosperous cities of its time, serving as a cultural and economic hub on the Silk Road, according to Travel Land and UNESCO background notes on Merv.
With the TurkmenTravel–2026 forum, the country has an opportunity to synchronise policy, tourism offerings, and promotion, while developing cross‑Caspian itineraries in partnership with Aktau and the Mangystau region. This approach could help capture travellers already visiting the Caspian area and strengthen its appeal. Kazakhstan’s Mangystau Region has emerged as a key tourism hub, ranking third nationwide for foreign arrivals in 2025. More than 350,000 international visitors were recorded between January and September, according to Astana Times.
If these strands are woven together — as the country’s carpets are — the forum can mark the pivot from potential to performance, positioning Turkmenistan as a credible, distinctive Silk Road destination built on heritage, wellness, and desert landscapes.
