Interview with director of “Bahoriston Health – Resort” Abdurahmon A. Abdujaborov

"The activity results of the Bahoriston health- resort in 2016 and strategy for 2017"

   The Bahoriston health- resort is the all year medical institution specialized on Wellness and Spa. The resort provides comprehensive medical rehabilitation, whose unique natural healing factors are combined with modern rehabilitation techniques on high-tech equipment. The qualified doctors detect, diagnose or monitor diseases, determine a course of treatment.

   The Standardization, Metrology, Certification and Trade Inspection Agency of Tajikistan also certified the high service quality of the health-resort. Bahoriston is the modern resort with the progressive staff, which is looking for new ideas and knowledge. I think that staff Skilling is good for business and good for workforce. We organized trainings and experience exchange for technical and food service staff in order to improve business performance, profit and staff morale. In the middle of November we hosted the seminar on basic standards of quality management systems: ISO 9001 “Quality Management Systems. Requirements” and ISO 9004 “Managing for the sustained success of an organization – A quality management approach”. This seminar was notable for the fact that the participants were presented the 5th edition of ISO 9001 standard approved in September 2015. At the same time we have received the certificate of conformity of international quality management system ISO – 9001:2008 by «CERT INTERNATIONAL».

   In Tajikistan Bahoriston is the only health-resort having ISO 9001: 2008 certification.

   The updating medical base has allowed us to expand the range of medical service. Our latest acquisitions are cedar barrels (phytosauna), fibroscope and iridoscope. The fibroscope is wildly used in the resort to get an accurate analysis. The iridoscope  can see problems in the organ and the body abilities to recover from the illnesses according to the signs on the iris. get an accurate analysis. The iridoscope is available only in our health-resort. The extended capabilities of medical lab allow to carry out multiple studies of hormone balance. It should be mentioned that the marketing analysis showed that prices for all conducted tests and medical procedures in Bahoriston are lower than in any other medical Sughd institution.

   We initiated the repair and restoration works on the threshold of a new season in almost all the buildings, the huge infrastrukutra requires close attention and enormous costs for the maintenance of the necessary conditions for the guests.

   The contemporary modernity styled fountain, more than 50,000 plants and trees and mini-zoo "World of birds" were the beginning of big project. We built a new scenic leisure complex with a mini swimming pool and waterfall. This place has become popular among tourists. We have improved playing fields, ennobled beach soccer and volleyball fields.

   In high season we tried to maximize the use of natural resources in the sport and recreational activities. As usual we have organized excursions to Shahristan and Iskanderkul and conducted river rafting on the Syr Darya. For fishing enthusiasts have been allocated fishing rods and boats, so they could go fishing on the sea or on the Syr Darya. New types of bicycles have been purchased, which were popular among children and adults.

   All these changes have led to an increase in the number of tourists who want to witness the renewed territory and appreciate the beauty of "Bahoriston". The result of significant increase in guests is the partial reconstruction and increasing the numbers of rooms. Now in summer we can accommodate up to 800 travelers per day. For comparison, in June - August, 2015 the resort availability was 777 people.

   During an official visit March 27, 2016 the Found of Peace and National Unity - Leader of the Nation, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon has praised the work of health-resort and set a target to increase the number of tourists from foreign countries. Head of State was informed that at the expense of net income of the resort a number of works have been fulfilled during the first 3 months of 2016.

   In September 14, 2016 the Leader of the Nation had a cordial conversation with a group of foreign tourists from different cities of Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and asked them about their treatment and conditions of their vacation. They discussed issues of cultural heritage of the Tajik people, and prospects of the development of friendly relations with Russia, development of tourism and promotion of spa treatment in the region.

   From September, 2015 resort makes conditions to attract foreign tourists for spa and wellness in "Bahoriston". From January, 2016 there has been a 10% increase in the number of partners, for example, in February, 2016 conclusion of a contract with the International tour operator "Evroport", subsidiary company of "Ural Airlines". According to current agreement we already host vacationers from Yekaterinburg and Ufa.

   The main KPI’s is a growth the number of foreigners comparing with the previous year. Due to developed strategy in December, 2015 and advertising campaigns we could attract more than 3,000 foreign citizens for rest and treatment in our health-resort. In 2016 it was signed 8 contracts with tour operators and agencies of the Russian Federation and Kyrgyzstan. The efficiency of the travel agencies contracts are increased by 25%. Over the past year Bahoriston accommodated guests from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Zlatoust, Tyumen, Perm, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, KhantyMansiysk, Ufa, Kazan, Nefteyugansk, Chelyabinsk, Surgut.

   From CIS countries guests of the resort were residents of Germany, China, Belgium, Bosnia and Gertsigoviny, India, Iran, Pakistan, Singapore, the Philippines, Finland, England, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Japan, France, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Slovenia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, the USA, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Romania.

   Full-scale advertising campaigns, conducted in Kyrgyzstan, provided the brand recognition in the Osh and Batken regions.

   Participation in international tourism exhibitions in Moscow (MITT-2016) and Yekaterinburg (ExpoTravel-2016) stimulated interest of the tourism industry representatives to Tajikistan and our opportunities, opened a new frontier for cooperation and prompted the development of new products and services.

   As a result of the Moscow International Trip and Tourism exhibition in March 2016 the flow of visitors from Moscow was increased. Already in April, just a month after the fair, resort hosted 20 tourists from Moscow who came to get acquainted with the conditions and health resort infrastructure.

   Experience in «ExpoTravel-2016" helped to identify the main areas of cooperation and coordination in the Sverdlovsk region. As a result of the meetings a strategic plan for was developed. The first webinar for Yekaterinburg tour operators and nearby cities will take place in January 2017. The press tour for representatives of the Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Kazan media will be held in March, during the Navruz celebration.

   Bahoriston price policy is characterized by its flexibility. The cost of permits depending on the season, often we suggest discounts for our guests. We have an experience of price reduction for the foreign citizens. Now there are stocks for the winter for all travelers. We pay great attention to recreation and health improvement of children, the activity "Family" was implemented in January 2016. In the 2017 will be valid only 2 prices. The high prices will be only in summer, in the high season, lower price was approved for the winter, spring and autumn.

   The 2016 year was a controversial and multi-tasking. This year taught us a lot and opened up new prospects for further development. We are proud of the achieved results, which confirm the correctness of the chosen course. We enter 2017 with renewed infrastructure, plans for further expansion and a great desire to bring guests only positive emotions.

   Bahoriston is facing with major tasks in the first place is improvement of the population and the provision of quality health services, as well as the development of internal and external tourism, by attracting foreign citizens. In the resort lies a great responsibility for the implementation of projects and activities to improve living conditions, landscaping and creating a positive image of the region as a whole.

   I will not reveal all the secrets, but we have prepared a lot of creative and interesting projects for implementation in the New Year.

   I want to thank all our partners, corporate clients and guests for choosing our resort. We are happy that we are an important part of your life.

   I wish you good health, success and happiness.

 We always welcome our old and new friends.