Ecotourism:
Balancing Environmental Stewardship with Economic Vitality
Can ecotourism foster both environmental stewardship and economic vitality?
Delve into our strategy for ecotourism around Lake Charvak, which champions responsible urban development.
Timeframe
2021 - 2022
Location
Client
Toshkentbosh - planLITI
Project Context:
Gate of Charvak and Yusufkhona
Uzbekistan's tourism sector, a crucial component of the national economy, has shown robust growth, significantly driven by streamlined visa processes. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, tourism contributed approximately $2.8 billion to the Uzbek economy.

In response, the government has launched multiple strategic initiatives, including the master plan for the Charvak tourist area by Novaya Labs, to stimulate this sector further.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the economic impact of tourism on Uzbekistan’s economy in 2019
$2.8 billion
Uzbekistan's national strategy for ecological tourism focuses on the regions of Parkent, Kokand, Tashmore, Zaamin, Karshi, Khiva, Kungurad, and Muynak.

The country promotes two national parks, including Ugam-Chatkal National Park in the Tian Shan Mountains—Uzbekistan's largest protected natural area. This and other parks are crucial for recreational tourism, offering diverse natural attractions and activities.
500 years ago
The first plane trees were planted
The historic cities of Bukhara, Samarkand, and Khiva remain Uzbekistan's premier destinations, thriving centres of historical and cultural tourism.
These cities remain recognised brands of the country, which has much more to offer - from ethnographic to recreational tourism.
5.2%
The share of tourism in Uzbekistan’s economy in 2019
4.4 mln
Tourists visited Uzbekistan in 2019
Tashkent Airport is the primary gateway for tourists and a key site for the expansion of both domestic and international tourism. Improving transport infrastructure in this region is vital to providing access and enhancing tourist experiences.
60 min
Accessibility by car to the
project site from Tashkent
120 min
Accessibility by train to the
project site from Tashkent
Gate of Charvak
The site is conceived as an intermodal transport hub and offers unique investment opportunities. It unlocks tourist access to the adjacent points of interest, supporting the economics of adjacent settlements and the Charvak Special Tourism Zone.
territory 1
Parking
Pedestrian bridge
Parking
Sports
Pedestrian bridge
Parking
Bus hub
Educational center
Financial-insurance cluster plots
Administrative plots: Coworking zone
Beach recreation area
Playground
Emergency
Commercial use plots
Public catering facilities
Police
Touristic Area
Administration
Public catering facilities
Plots
Beach recreation area
Beach recreation area
Sports
Playground
Catering facilities
Photo zone
Photo zone
Pier
Helicopter pad
Rail hub
Commercial facilities
Yusufkhona
Designed for beach and active tourism, it offers affordable and eco-friendly retreats that are compact and commercially sustainable.
territory 2
Picnic area
Hotels
Beach recreation area
Dance place
Beach recreation area
Beach recreation area
Beach recreation area
Picnic area
Picnic area
Yoga
Catering facilities
Archaeological heritage objects
Archaeological heritage objects
Archaeological heritage objects
Archaeological heritage objects
Playground
Hotels
Catering facilities
Shopping
Dance place
Retail
Retail
Retail
Beach recreation area
Hotels
Parking
Hotels
Retail
Picnic area
Picnic area
Entertainment attractions
Amphitheater
Fishing
Fishing
Pier
Quality and variety of life
To promote an inclusive and just environment, we proposed several centres for education and retraining, sustainable transport, and protection of natural environments.
design principles .1
Protecting Local Ecosystem
Considering the local climate, marked by occasional extreme summer heat, we developed a pedestrian network based on the network of interconnected springs, horizontally linked by green corridors, creating a unified aquatic-green system
Pedestrian network
The green framework is based on a system of modern green spaces—an eco-park, a multi-level embankment, and pocket parks
Green spaces and the public realm
Green Fences
Traditionally, in Uzbekistan, fences (of all kinds) delineate plots, impacting visual continuity. Our strategy introduces design codes that promote trees and hedges to provide delineation, privacy and improved shade
The restoration of the Chinor Railway Station improves and promotes intercity electric-powered railway service for tourists. Once the train arrives at the station, one can take an electric bus or car-sharing to get around the Chervak area
Electric and public transport
Public spaces and local communities
Yusufkhona, a tourist area on the southern shore of Lake Charvak, faces historic settlements on the northern coast. The circular park ensures that tourists and locals share this new public infrastructure. It creates a spatial link between existing villages and tourist areas, establishing a new system of public spaces for recreation and cultural exchange.

We ensure that local residents can easily access recreational activities by providing shared infrastructure (e.g., playgrounds and sports grounds) on the northern shore.
Design principles .2
Prioritising Community and Local Culture
Green and Blue Infrastructures
The principles of green and blue infrastructures guide spatial and design solutions
Green Grid
Green and water connections incorporate the built environment and bring wildlife and natural ecosystems into it