Notable for being home to the 'stans' Is an interesting region. As a bridge between Europe and Asia, the region was the home of the Silk Road, the ancient trading route between the two continents in the first centuries of the common era.

Central Asia:

Strength  Is increasing in popularity amongst travellers who want to experience one of the world's last great frontier lands.

Central Asia:

Weakness is an area that was, until

recently, inaccessible for independent travellers.

self-identification is an especially touchy issue

Often they emphasise their Central Asian identity, something not well-understood by outsiders. 

Corruption is an issue in most Central Asian countries. Countries such as Kazakhstan are fighting corruption heavily.

Central Asia:

Opportunities   The region was the home of the Silk Road, the ancient trading route between the two continents in the first centuries of the common era. Some Central Asian countries are beginning to find their feet and offer good travelling options.

Central Asia:

Threats Temperature fluctuations

are more severe. Safety in Central Asia is a

complex issue. While Afghanistan is

famous for the possibility of kidnappings, riots and Taliban resurgence, most other Central Asian countries risk riots after years of autocratic or near-autocratic government.

Tibet and Xinjiang were engulfed by riots in 2008 and 2009, respectively, while Kyrgyzstan suffered through a violent revolution in 2010.

Afghanistan

One-time backpacker Shangri-La, but after 30 years of bloody (and ongoing) war,

famine, and nightmare politics, it holds considerably

less touristic appeal today.

Strength – Afghanistan has been the centre of many powerful empires for the past 2,000 years.

Weakness – There is a short border with China to the far northeast, but in extremely inaccessible terrain. is considered poor compared to many other nations of the world.

Opportunities – country is currently going through a nation-wide rebuilding process.

Threats – The is a volatile country, and downright dangerous in the southern and eastern areas -- non-essential travel is strongly discouraged.

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Kazakhstan

The world's largest landlocked nation is sparsely populated,

dominated by archetypal Central Asian steppe, with deep

reserves of fossil fuels, and pockets of beautiful wilderness

for outdoors enthusiasts.

Strength – Achieving a sustainable economic growth outside the oil, gas, and mining sectors, and strengthening relations with surrounding states and other foreign powers. Is well known for rather unique natural and geographic conditions. It is an area rich with ancient history and culture known for such monuments of medieval architectures.Weakness – Kazakhstan suffers from extensive corruption, ranking 120th among 180 countries in the transparency internationals corruption, perception index. This has proved detrimental for the country’s business growth. The slowdown in the pace of structural reforms has made Kazakhstan less attractive in terms in doing business compared to other transition economies.Opportunities – It has large oil and natural gas reserves. Expanding the development of the country’s vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets.Threats – Competition from other destinations. Indirect competition from other substitutes. PESTEEL factors; Political, Economic, Social and Technological Environmental  Ethics  Legal.

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Kyrgyzstan

A truly beautiful country high in the mountains, and with the exception of the admittedly

fascinating but unsafe Ferghana Valley, Central Asia's easiest and perhaps most pleasant

place to visit.

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Strength – is a Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions. Weakness – Landlocked and mountainous, it borders Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the southeast.Opportunities – Kyrgyzstan introduced a visa-free regime for citizens of 44 countries up to 60 days.President of the Kyrgyz republic signed the Law "On introduction of visa free regime for citizens of some countries up for to 60 days." the law was adopted in order to simplify procedures for issuing visas to foreign citizens and increase the attractiveness of the tourism market, tourism development and investments.Threats – is constantly engulfed in strafes and political turmoil, and several countries advise foreigners to not travel to Kyrgyzstan at this time.

Tajikistan

Central Asia's poorest backwater, is truly is off the beaten path, but with incredible landscapes and Persian culture, and off-

again, on-again civil wars.

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Strength – the nation is unique in that the majority culture is non-turkic, unlike its neighbors to the north and west and east.Weakness – is the poorest country in central asia and one of the world’s poorest. Opportunities – is a stunning place and there is plenty to do, from the Silk Road mystique of places like Khujand and Istaravshan, to the stunning, untouched mountain scenery of the pamirs and their accompanying allure of unclimbed pics and virgin trekking roots.Threats – there is no working purification system, and outbreaks of typhoid and cholera (rarely) are common. Other preventable endemic illnesses are hepatitis A, rabies, poliomyelitis and thick-borne encephalitis. The occasional anthrax case comes in, but its rare nowadays. There are during in the hot season, a few pockets were malaria can occur. HIV is a growing health threat in Tajikistan.

Turkmenistan

An amalgam of desert moonscapes and arid

mountains, dotted with the ruins of great ancient civilizations, and ruled until recently by a

post-Soviet lunatic cultivating one of the most bizarre cults of personality in history, this is off-

the-beaten-path, difficult (courtesy of rotten officialdom), but potentially very rewarding

travel.

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Strength – is a very unusual regime. The government is in firm control of nearly everything. Officially tourism is welcomed, but onerous Soviet-style visa requirements discourage all but the most determined visitors. It is the 2nd Wealthiest country in Central Asia.Weakness – It is a fairly poor country that has been isolated from the world. Opportunities – The country has extensive oil and gas reserves being developed, with recently opened pipe lines to China, Iran, and soon Azerbajan.Threats – Politics remain a very sensitive issue and it is your responsibility that you do not involve yourself or speak out against the government, since it is considered a crime.

Uzbekistan

With cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Tashkent, and other old Silk Road citadels,

this country has way more than its fair share of culture and

history. The people are warm and friendly and the country naturally is nothing short of

beautiful. The government will go out of its way to complicate

your trip, though.

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Strength – is a country with great potential for an expanded tourism industry. Attracts tourist with its historical, archeological, architectural, and natural treasures.Weakness –  the general decline of trade moving through the region. This change had begun in the previous century when ocean trade routes were established from Europe to India and China, circumventing the Silk Route. Opportunities – Some of the well established restaurants are surprisingly good value by western standard, some of the random or last popular restaurants try to take advantage of tourists by riping off up to 5 times of normal price.Threats – There have been a number of security incidents in this region, as well as several exchanges of gun fire across the Uzbek/Kyrgyz border. Some boarder areas are also mined. Traveler should be there for avoid these areas and cross only at authorized border crossing points.