B&B Lodgings Provide Fillip to Uzbekistan’s Tourism

BUKHARA (Uzbekistan), Sept 19 (Bernama) -- Many travellers and especially backpackers generally think that the term ‘Bed & Breakfast’ (B&B) simply means a room to sleep, where one will also be served breakfast. Uzbekistan, which was formerly a part of the Soviet Union, is banking on the B&B concept to attract more tourists as well as its historical sites and colourful culture. A group of Malaysians comprising travel agents and journalists recently visited the Central Asian country, where they stayed at a series of enchanting B&B establishments dotted around Uzbekistan’s historic cities of Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand. The trip was organised by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Kuala Lumpur. The B&B accommodation in Bukhara, built in the 14th century and used for sheltering Jewish families during the Soviet era, offers tourists an unforgettable experience, especially to those who are visiting for the first time. The Lyabi House Hotel, located in the old city of Bukhara, is located in a vibrant environment and provides great comfort, not to mention the good service, which is provided by local residents of this 2,000-year-old province. AUTHENTIC AND OPULENT The rooms face a courtyard and their walls are adorned with vibrant carvings laced with geometrical designs and Hebrew scripts, which create an opulent ambience. Around 80 per cent of the original design and appearance of the building has been preserved, including its facade and structure, which serves as the main attraction for guests. Manager of the Lyabi House, Mekhriban Bonu, 23, also agreed that the building and its original features are the main draw for tourists. "My family bought this housing plot from a Jewish family around 1997. What you see today is how it has always looked, even when we first bought the property or during our earlier stay here before we bought it," she told Bernama. Bonu stated that the strategic location of the house encouraged her father to turn it into an accommodation for tourists, which now generates a respectable income for the family. She added that the hotel is located a mere 50 metres from the main tourism spots of Bukhara, such as the Ark Fortress, the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, the Miri-Arab Madrasah and the Kaylan Mosque. "My father believes that the building’s history and architecture are the main attraction of our family business. He even went to great lengths to ensure that the restoration work done here does not deviate from the building’s original theme," Bonu said. GOOD SERVICE AND FACILITIES The hotel’s management and staff also ensure that guests are treated with first-rate services. "The hotel can accommodate up to 70 guests at a time and has basic facilities like laundry, air conditioning, Internet access and television," Bonu pointed out, adding that most of her tourist clientele comes from France, Germany and Italy. Rated as a three-star hotel, the Lyabi House has 40 rooms which consist of comfortable single and twin bedrooms. Beautifully decorated with ornamental Suzani fabric, which is a woven textile cloth native to Uzbekistan and its neighbouring Tajikistan, room tariffs at this B&B hotel are priced reasonably at between US$45 and US$60. JUST LIKE HOME The visiting Malaysian entourage also had the chance to see the Nazira & Ubizbek Guesthouse, which is a 10-room bed and breakfast establishment, and has been owned and managed by a husband and wife team for the last 12 years. Nazira & Ubizbek is not as luxurious or fanciful compared with the other B&B hotels in Bukhara, its owner Gulyamova Nazira Oripovna, 35, admitted. "However, tourists still prefer staying here because it feels homely," she said, adding that another factor that works in her favour is her treating guests like family members. Oripovna explained that this practice is in keeping with local customs where guests are welcomed and treated as family members. B&B IN SAMARKAND In the city of Samarkand, which is about five hours away from Bukhara, B&Bs can be found in every nook and corner of the city. It is currently estimated that over 40 B&B lodgings are available in this third largest region of Uzbekistan, which caters to tourists through all seasons. Samarkand, one of the oldest cities of the world and an important trading post on the silk route, also offers good accommodation and good-quality service to its guests. In the city, the Malaysian visitors were hosted by the Caravan Seraile Chorrakha Hotel. A charming hotel located within a 10-minute walking distance from the Registan Square and the Bibi Khanum Mosque, the B&B is actually within walking distance of every site worth visiting in Samarkand. With a classic ambience and little elements of history, the Caravan Seraile, which means ‘resting place,’ features a contemporary decor with an exclusive touch of Samarkand’s culture. The hotel also has a moderately sized yard where several lounge chairs have been placed and its wall paintings narrate events from the past, including tales of Uzbeks travelling along the Silk Route. Its managing director Zilola Sattarova stated that the hotel’s location is conveniently close to several tourist spots, which makes it popular among travellers. "Because of the short distances involved, tourists can easily walk around and observe the beauty of Samarkand in the gated community. They can also head out to the bazaars and other historical locations from here," said the mother of three. Sattarova, who manages the hotel along with her husband, revealed that her smart networking with a series of touring companies based in Japan, China, France, the Czech Republic as well as Malaysia has helped her business greatly. "From the comments and feedback we keep receiving, most tourists are in favour of returning to the hotel, should they find themselves in Uzbekistan again," she pointed out. WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS DRIVING UZBEK TOURISM Without a doubt, female entrepreneurs have played a crucial role in promoting tourism in the country. They take genuine pleasure in being ‘ambassadors’ for their country, and put in relentless efforts into providing uncompromising services to foreign guests and visitors. The Uzbek ‘Bed & Breakfast’ initiative was indeed an eye-opener and an exciting new experience. Go for it if you want to be mesmerised by Uzbekistan’s beautiful culture, landscape and structures, and be charmed by its hospitable people. -- BERNAMA