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 April 14–17, 2026. The agenda includes specialized seminars and roundtable sessions organized jointly with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), 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. according to turkmenistan.gov.™. 

The forum will bring together tour operators, airlines, hospitality representatives, and experts in cultural heritage and ecotourism; ca. 100 foreign delegates and ~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—according to Business.com

Turkmenistan’s Tourism Potential

UNESCO Sites and Heritage: Turkmenistan possesses a rich UNESCOinscribed heritage, including three major World Heritage cultural sites—Ancient Merv, KunyaUrgench, 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 carpetmaking art, the Kushtdepdi rite of singing and dancing, and dutar craftsmanship and performance—all underscoring the country’s Silk Road history and living traditions, according to UNESCO.

EVisas 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, according to Wein, A. (2025, April 22). 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), according to Travel Tomorrow. Independent reporting by AP News and The Independent corroborates that the law removes the invitationletter requirement and delegates evisa specifics to presidential regulation.

A Country of Under Explored Potential

Indeed, Turkmenistan has substantial untapped tourism potential. As a Kazakh website noted: “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.” (QRA Centre).

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, bestpreserved oasis cities of the Silk Road; Nisa........

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