Awaza

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Logo of the project
Hotels in Awaza with the canal in the foreground

Awaza is a tourist area in Turkmenistan on the east side of the Caspian Sea , about 12 km west of the city of Türkmenbaşy . Awaza was created primarily through income from the export of oil and gas and is used by the government and the authoritarian ruling President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow for propaganda purposes.

history

After Turkmenistan's independence in 1991, Saparmyrat Nyýazow became president, who went down in history primarily for his personality cult. He laid the foundation stone for this tourist zone and had big plans, which were only partially realized.

After his death in 2007, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow came to power as president and changed the plans in some massive ways, but continued planning the tourism zone. In the meantime, a large number of hotels and tourist resorts have emerged in Awaza, and since then numerous jobs have been created for the population in the otherwise structurally weak region.

However, the many hotels in the city are rarely fully booked, so Awaza often appears empty. Those responsible expect that the project will develop strongly in the coming years and that more foreign visitors will come to Awaza. For most Turkmens, a stay in Awaza cannot be financed.

In August 2019, the first Caspian Economic Forum took place in Awaza. According to media reports, President Berdimuhamedov ordered the closure of the entire tourist zone to visitors over the summer months as a measure to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkmenistan in May 2020 . As a result, hundreds of hospitality and hospitality workers in Awaza have been laid off.

terrain

The site is separated from the desert by an eight-kilometer canal that was artificially created for the project. There are numerous magnificent buildings on the site, for example the Awaza congress center , which was completed in 2015 and, with conference rooms with up to 2000 seats, a press conference room and rooms for the president, is one of the largest of its kind in the world. A huge aquarium with a volume of 35,000 m³ has already been completed, a water park and other luxury hotels are being planned in the tourism zone.

Trivia

In 2018, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymuchamedow and his grandson Kerimguly Berdymuchamedow produced the song Sporty Turkmenistan . The accompanying music video was made in Awaza against the backdrop of the Caspian Sea.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Farangis Najibullah, Murat Gurban: Turkmenistan's Tourism Dream Stands Empty For Now. July 19, 2012, accessed September 22, 2018 .
  2. ↑ Turkmenistan: Ride a white swan | Eurasianet. Accessed June 7, 2020 (English).
  3. ^ Awaza Convention Center - Turkmenbashi 2015. In: polimeks.com. Retrieved September 22, 2018 (American English).
  4. ↑ Polin Waterparks: Water Park Supplier & Water Slide Manufacturer In: polin.com.tr , accessed on September 27, 2018.
  5. ↑ Awaza Aquarium & Water Park . In: MAT LSS . February 26, 2016 ( matlss.com [accessed September 22, 2018]).

Coordinates: 39 ° 57 '  N , 52 ° 51'  E