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<strong>Kyrgyz</strong> <strong>Tourism</strong><br />
TODAY<br />
Quarterly Newsletter of the Destination Marketing<br />
Association <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> <strong>Tourism</strong>/DMA<br />
#1 NOVEMBER<br />
2006<br />
Content:<br />
Briefly about the Association – page 2<br />
Where does the tourism path lead? – page 3<br />
<strong>Tourism</strong>: staff determine everything – page 4<br />
Cultural exchange in <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan – page 5<br />
Holydays in Toktogul – page 5<br />
Mongolia: Prospects for <strong>Tourism</strong> Development – page 6<br />
Japanese and <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> look alike – page 7<br />
Calendar of tourism fairs of 2007 – page 8<br />
Cultural events – page 8
Association news<br />
Dear Friends,<br />
Let me introduce you to the first issue of the <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> <strong>Tourism</strong><br />
Today newsletter. We would like to share with you information about<br />
the Association, tourism news, new tour products and services, and<br />
interesting events in our country.<br />
I started working for the <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> <strong>Tourism</strong> Association in May<br />
2006 and now you can see the results of my work and that of our<br />
team (DMA and DMO), which has put a lot of effort, skills and<br />
knowledge into the Association.<br />
I would like to thank the Destination Marketing Organization<br />
project and the Board of the Association who have always paid<br />
attention to our work and given us the support we need. Our strong<br />
and close relationship with them has always been based on mutual<br />
trust and respect. Currently, there are 90 members of the <strong>Kyrgyz</strong><br />
<strong>Tourism</strong> Association countrywide, a clear indication that we are on<br />
the right road. Therefore, we hope that the Association will become<br />
one of the most important tools in promoting <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan as a tourism destination. We wish to work following<br />
the principles of flexibility and transparency to introduce <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan to potential tourists for mutually<br />
beneficial cooperation.<br />
We sincerely hope that <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> <strong>Tourism</strong> Today will help create a good impression of our Association and<br />
will reassure you that marketing <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan, as a tourism destination is necessary for the Government and<br />
private sector of our country.<br />
<strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan is a wonderful country and has great potential and opportunities for tourism development.<br />
Sincerely yours,<br />
Suita Bekmuratova,<br />
Executive Director of the <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> <strong>Tourism</strong> Association<br />
Information in brief about the <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> <strong>Tourism</strong> Association /DMA<br />
In future, you will be able to read about the results<br />
of our promotions, planning issues and current news<br />
from the Association here. In this first issue, we would<br />
like to address people who may not yet be familiar<br />
with our background and objectives, giving you a<br />
general introduction to the background of <strong>Kyrgyz</strong><br />
<strong>Tourism</strong>/DMA.<br />
The DMA, Destination Marketing Association<br />
was registered in August 2004 and in 2005 became the<br />
local partner organization of the DMO project (<strong>Tourism</strong><br />
Destination Marketing Project run by Helvetas Swiss<br />
Association for International Cooperation). It was then<br />
renamed <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> <strong>Tourism</strong> in a logical step towards its<br />
own identity and better recognition. From 2005 to<br />
2007 the Association is being funded by seco (Swiss<br />
state secretariat for economic affairs), the Government<br />
of the <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> Republic and the private tourism sector<br />
of the country.<br />
marketing plan, developed and approved each year by<br />
the General Assembly and Steering Committee of the<br />
Association.<br />
Like every national tourism promotion<br />
organization, we work closely with the Government<br />
(Ministry of Trade, Industry and <strong>Tourism</strong>), which has<br />
equal representation on the Board of our Association.<br />
We consider a solid base of public-private<br />
partnership to be fundamental for the future of our<br />
Association and for coordinated tourism marketing.<br />
For membership and more information, please<br />
write to dma@elcat.kg. I look forward to seeing<br />
you at the important next General Assembly.<br />
Our objective and task as defined in the charter, is<br />
to promote <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan as a tourism destination and to<br />
support tourism development in our country. The staff<br />
of the Association shares offices with the DMO support<br />
project at 231 Tynystanova Street. Our main activities<br />
are concentrated on implementing the ambitious
<strong>Tourism</strong> news<br />
Where does the tourism path lead?<br />
70<br />
60<br />
50<br />
40<br />
30<br />
20<br />
10<br />
0<br />
<strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan has come into tourism with a rich<br />
natural, cultural and historical potential and in its 15 years<br />
of independence the country has already accumulated<br />
experience of attending World <strong>Tourism</strong> Fairs. <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan<br />
is working and learning at the same time and moving in<br />
tune with world market developments, taking the best,<br />
most accessible and acceptable paths relevant to local<br />
conditions, as can be seen from the results of the market<br />
research, which was conducted in summer 2006.<br />
44,5<br />
38,5<br />
Expect more<br />
Does the quality of services for CIS<br />
tourists meet their expectations, in %?<br />
24,0<br />
8,0<br />
4,2 4,6<br />
More then<br />
expected<br />
40,2 39,9 55,9<br />
Just meet<br />
expectations<br />
2002 2004 2006<br />
17,1<br />
10,7 12,1<br />
Difficult to<br />
answer<br />
Tourists from more than 40 foreign countries, 70<br />
cities of Russia, 15 cities of Kazakhstan, 10 cities of<br />
Uzbekistan, and also internal tourists from different<br />
regions of the country expressed their opinion about the<br />
country’s hospitality.<br />
According to the tourists the level of service<br />
quality has improved in basic accommodation, cafes and<br />
restaurants. There are more dissatisfied and disappointed<br />
tourists than we would wish, but the overall improvement<br />
in service level is obvious.<br />
The demand for tourism services in the KR this<br />
year exceeded all expectations – more than a million<br />
people visited our country. At the same time the level of<br />
prices was especially «impressive» and prices increased<br />
dramatically due to the modernization of rooms and<br />
building new hotels and resorts. There has been a visible<br />
change in the structure of supply towards more expensive<br />
rooms - from $35 and higher. The need for rooms at $15-<br />
25 has become critical. There are no places for school,<br />
student or pensioner tourism. There are no Community<br />
Вased camps, as there are in other countries. These<br />
deficiencies are the result of a lack of a leisure industry<br />
development strategy for <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan.<br />
The prices for adventure tours were almost<br />
unchanged. Europeans value stability and can influence<br />
the prices of KR tour operators. On the whole, prices<br />
increased especially where the quality of service has<br />
44.7% of CIS tourists are planning to visit <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan<br />
again next year, as are 22.2% of tourists from foreign<br />
countries, which is 10% more than in 2004.<br />
Almost all tourists who visited our country this<br />
summer faced various problems, some of which could be<br />
solved. The repetition of some problems and the delay in<br />
solving them casts doubt on the state’s proclaimed priority<br />
of the tourism industry in developing the economy of the<br />
country.<br />
It is possible to see from the general picture, that<br />
CIS tourists are complaining less about the low level of<br />
service, while the state of the roads, Customs procedures,<br />
extortion by inspectors and other inconveniences continue<br />
to annoy tourists and go against the country’s wish to be<br />
seen as a hospitable country. If there were not all these<br />
problems, then walking the tourism path would be more<br />
interesting.<br />
R. Shaihutdinov<br />
Director of Marketing Services Bureau<br />
(This article is based on the <strong>Tourism</strong> Market of the<br />
KR 2006, market research conducted with the support of<br />
DMA|DMO, BAS|EBRD)<br />
70<br />
60<br />
50<br />
40<br />
30<br />
20<br />
10<br />
0<br />
Does the quality of services corresponded to<br />
price paid by tourists from CIS countries, in %?<br />
3,4 3,1 4,3 44,7 43,8<br />
62,5<br />
Consider price<br />
underestimated<br />
Correspondent<br />
price<br />
39,6 39,6<br />
20,2<br />
Consider price<br />
underestimated<br />
2002 2004 2006<br />
12,2 13,6 13,0<br />
Difficult to<br />
answer
Opinion<br />
<strong>Tourism</strong>: staff determine everything<br />
In spite of the fact that the tourism industry in <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan is developing rapidly, the system of staff<br />
training doesn’t meet the requirements of the labour market and so the level and quality of skilled<br />
employees leaves a lot to be desired. Therefore there is a situation, where employers cannot find qualified<br />
staff and graduates cannot find jobs. As a result, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and <strong>Tourism</strong> of the<br />
<strong>Kyrgyz</strong> Republic (MITT) is currently initiating some projects to solve staff training problems.<br />
Photo: Cholpon Begalieva<br />
The main reasons for the current situation are<br />
that educational institutions are not planning the future<br />
educational process, not conducting market research<br />
in the labour market and are not developing trades<br />
(occupations), which are in demand in the labour market.<br />
The level of practical training, which students get in<br />
tourism enterprises is very low. There is another problem<br />
- graduates lack practical experience, computer skills,<br />
foreign languages, management skills, initiative, ability<br />
to work as part of a team and do not understand what<br />
clients need. These are the main complaints of tourism<br />
businesses about educational institutions.<br />
The need for highly skilled staff for the tourism<br />
industry is growing quite rapidly and the number of<br />
vocational school leavers is increasing every year with<br />
100 (2003), 50 (2004), 158 (2005)* and 89 (2003),<br />
322 (2004), 243 (2005)** from professional lyceums.<br />
However, <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> tour operators are not satisfied with<br />
the level of training of university graduates, 107 (2003),<br />
71(2004) and 137 (2005)*.<br />
Sanatorium-resort and hotel service, and catering<br />
are some of the most important sectors of tourism but<br />
unfortunately in our country, especially in the years of<br />
changing over to a market economy they have not become<br />
as profitable and efficient as in foreign countries. One of<br />
the ways of solving this problem is through training and<br />
raising the level of staff skills. In this connection MITT<br />
has signed a Memorandum with the Ministry of Education,<br />
Science and Youth Policy of the <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> Republic<br />
about creating an educational, scientific and industrial<br />
faculty in the field of tourism based at the Bishkek State<br />
Economics and Business University to study the state of<br />
and prospects for developing the tourism industry of the<br />
<strong>Kyrgyz</strong> Republic and also developing innovative ways of<br />
training staff for the tourism industry.<br />
Obviously, it is necessary to actively engage<br />
employers in the educational process, develop<br />
professional standards, assess the content and quality<br />
of staff training and consequently, it is necessary to<br />
develop a social partnership between the government,<br />
private sector and educational institutions. Professions<br />
are changing, as are their qualification criteria, which<br />
is why, it is necessary to develop a new jobs classifier<br />
for the tourism sphere and new professional standards<br />
and high-quality curricula and to adapt them to the<br />
new market conditions. What is the reaction of the<br />
teachers and trainers of staff? This question is still<br />
open.<br />
Gulmira Karymshakova,<br />
Head of educational methodical department of<br />
Ministry of industry, trade and tourism of KR<br />
Today the tourism services market requires<br />
specialised ways of training professionals and gaps have<br />
been exposed in the current training system. Taking<br />
into account the above-stated problems and modern<br />
requirements of the labour market, the MITT has developed<br />
new criteria for professions in hotel and restaurant<br />
service, mountaineering and ecological tourism, which<br />
are currently being considered by representatives of the<br />
tourism industry. These new professions are needed in the<br />
labour market and changes need to be made to the state<br />
register of professions of workers, positions of employees<br />
and wage categories of OK 008 -98, and in curricula.
Made in KG<br />
Cultural exchange in <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan<br />
The 2nd At Chabysh Cultural and Sport Festival, a fantastic show with the best horses and riders of<br />
<strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan, was held on the Barskoon Plateau, Issyk-Kul region from 4th to 7th November<br />
The purpose of this international festival is to rehabilitate and<br />
preserve the <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> horse, which is the heart of <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> nomadic<br />
culture.<br />
The festival was organized by the local <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> Ate Foundation<br />
in co-operation with the <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> government. For just three days the<br />
shore of Issyk-Kul Lake became an arena where a horse marathon<br />
(horse endurance race), traditional horse games, greyhound dog races<br />
(taïgans), eagle and falconry displays, archery (jamby) took place. Not<br />
only sports competitions were held but also folklore enthusiasts enjoyed<br />
the performances of akyns, narrators of the Manas Epic (manaschy), a<br />
yurt camp was set up, handicrafts were judged by the audience and of<br />
course, gourmets could taste dishes of rich traditional food.<br />
This 2nd Festival again attracted international visitors, including<br />
TV crews and international journalists and over 8.000 people attended.<br />
Modern tourists are usually looking for opportunities to meet and mingle<br />
with local people. These exchanges and the experience of a living<br />
cultural heritage reflect a profound need, especially for well-travelled<br />
people. In <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan they have their origin in the traditional way of life<br />
and traditions from time immemorial and seem to appeal to more and<br />
more visitors.<br />
The At Chabysh Festival could become an important tourist<br />
attraction appealing to tourists from way beyond <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan’s borders. In<br />
addition, it represents a welcome extension to the relatively short <strong>Kyrgyz</strong><br />
tourism season and like events in general, generates many overnights and<br />
direct income for local people.<br />
Vasily Zalokar<br />
DMO project coordinator / Helvetas <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan<br />
Photo: Vasily Zalokar<br />
Holidays in Toktogul<br />
TRANSLINE <strong>Tourism</strong> Company has prepared a new eco-tourism product for the 2007<br />
season - holidays on the shores of Toktogul Reservoir..<br />
apricots, quinces, pears, walnuts and even almonds, grow. There<br />
is a separate dining room with a mansard, where it is possible<br />
to enjoy magnificent views of the reservoir and surrounding<br />
mountain ridge.<br />
Photo: Sergey Zavrajnov<br />
This area was chosen deliberately for the richness and<br />
diversity of its flora and fauna, mild climate and magnificent<br />
scenery. The journey from Bishkek to the camp takes five - six<br />
hours (360 km from the capital of <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan). On the way it<br />
is possible to see magnificent and very varied scenery: from<br />
the quiet valley of Suusamyr and the picturesque canyon of<br />
Chychkan, with its enormous blue spruce, to the snow-covered<br />
alpine mountain passes of Tyuya Shuu and Ala Bel.<br />
The basic tours offered by TRANSLINE are short treks and<br />
horseback tours. Our staff will be happy to make up individual<br />
itineraries based on two standard programmes. We offer special<br />
deals at weekends to include relaxation on Toktogul with<br />
horse riding, rowing and even small motorboat excursions. For<br />
fishermen we offer a unique route to the alpine lake of Kara–Suu,<br />
with its large variety of fish. The lake is 40 km from base camp<br />
by the reservoir, along a mountain road and the riverbed of the<br />
Kara-Suu River. The good location of the camp enables you,<br />
during a long weekend, to enjoy fishing on Kara-Suu and relax<br />
by Toktogul Reservoir and its charming surroundings.<br />
Sergey Zavrajnov<br />
tour manager of TRANSLINE<br />
Here there is everything for a relaxing holiday. The<br />
comfortable cottages for 18 people (single and triple rooms)<br />
are located almost in the centre of an orchard, where apples,
Learning from experience<br />
Mongolia: prospects for <strong>Tourism</strong> Development<br />
Organization of tourism sector<br />
There is a <strong>Tourism</strong> Association of Mongolia,<br />
established in 1992. The Board consists of 9 private<br />
sector members, with only the President representing the<br />
Government. The association has around 100 members and,<br />
their office employees two full time staff, financed from<br />
annual membership fees. A new partnership model with<br />
differentiated/gradated fees is currently being considered.<br />
The main challenges are to increase / improve operations,<br />
increase international cooperation and improve synergies<br />
in the tourism development initiatives.<br />
Photo: Vasily Zalokar<br />
Mongolia is near and far at the same time.<br />
What do we know about this wonderful country?<br />
It is the motherland of Genghis Khan and there<br />
are boundless steppes and large herds of cattle. Is<br />
that all? Do we know how tourism is developing<br />
in Mongolia today? In this article I would like<br />
to share my impressions from my visit to this<br />
wonderful country and try to answer a question,<br />
which is raised by many experts: “How within the<br />
past few years has this country managed to build<br />
the reputation of a well known country and become<br />
a destination for international tourists?”<br />
What does Mongolia attract tourists with?<br />
The tourist potential of Mongolia is less favourable<br />
than in <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan and. their offers are less varied. This<br />
is due to the harsh climatic conditions. Furthermore, there<br />
is virtually no recreation tourism market in comparison to<br />
our Issyk-Kul region. Despite these limitations,<br />
Mongolia has over the past 5 years, managed<br />
to establish an international reputation as a<br />
fascinating travel destination. The main reasons<br />
and advantages are; The myth and legend of<br />
Genghis Khan are kept alive; Mongolia is<br />
located on and a stopover along the popular Trans<br />
Siberian Railway to Beijing; Cultural <strong>Tourism</strong><br />
based on the Ger (the Mongolian version of<br />
the Yurt) and the Gobi desert. Mongolia is<br />
successfully competing with <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan for the<br />
“adventurous (individual) traveller” in some<br />
identical tourism source markets. In addition,<br />
Mongolia is already managing to accommodate<br />
medium sized tour groups – often senior<br />
travellers - from various countries. Mongolia<br />
has already begun to promote the off-season,<br />
organizing an Ice Festival and a camel festival<br />
in winter and more.<br />
There is a visibly constructive atmosphere<br />
and a declared willingness to jointly promote<br />
and develop tourism in Mongolia among<br />
Associations, the private sector and Government<br />
bodies.<br />
The Goverment is officially responsible for promoting<br />
national tourism, with an annual budget in 2006 of USD<br />
300,000 for marketing purposes. The professional approach<br />
of the Ministry in producing promotional material is<br />
significant. There is limited cooperation with private sector<br />
initiatives, but support for most initiatives, such as a new<br />
CBT project (Community based tourism). At international<br />
tourism fairs, Mongolia impresses with a very attractive,<br />
award winning stand, drawing a lot of public attention.<br />
The <strong>Tourism</strong> Information Offices in Ulaan Baatar –<br />
the capital of Mongolia are one of the most impressive and<br />
advanced tourism structures in tourism. These offices (there<br />
are 3 offices) – are all in prime locations, of international<br />
standard, with helpful local staff and are well stocked with<br />
various information material and consequently, very well<br />
visited.<br />
Vasily Zalokar<br />
DMO project coordinator / Helvetas <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan<br />
Photo: Vasily Zalokar
At first hand<br />
Tomoko Nishio: “<strong>Kyrgyz</strong> and Japanese look alike!”<br />
Today Japan is open to the whole world and active in<br />
international cooperation, including in <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan and the<br />
partnership between these countries in the humanitarian,<br />
educational and cultural spheres is getting stronger. The result of<br />
the trust both sides have in each other was the opening a few years<br />
ago of the Japanese Embassy and the <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>-Japanese Resource<br />
Centre in <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan. Annual days of Japanese Culture in Bishkek<br />
give us more and more information about this wonderful country.<br />
What do Japanese people know about our mountainous country?<br />
Who are they – Japanese tourists? We decided to find out the<br />
answers to these and other questions from Ms. Tomoko Nishio, a<br />
journalist from the Land of the Rising Sun. She represents a weekly<br />
travel magazine, Japan/Weekly Travel Journal. Ms. Tomoko Nishio<br />
is one of the participants in the Press Tour organized by the <strong>Kyrgyz</strong><br />
<strong>Tourism</strong> Association.<br />
- What are your impressions about <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan and<br />
its tourist attractions?<br />
- <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan is a very interesting country for the<br />
Japanese, with a pristine natural environment similar to<br />
Japan some 30 – 40 years ago, when technologies have<br />
just started to develop and the ecology hasn’t changed.<br />
The natural world of <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan is rich and beautiful.<br />
The mountains, rivers and lakes make this land alive and<br />
attractive. If we take into consideration the cultural aspects<br />
along the Silk Road then it will attract the attention of<br />
many foreign tourists who love history. The monuments<br />
of the past and historical places are the most interesting<br />
factors. We can relate to the <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> culture.<br />
- Where / what should we improve as the first<br />
priority, in order to attract Japanese tourists?<br />
- We appreciate the hospitality of the <strong>Kyrgyz</strong><br />
people. Kindness is one of the ways to the heart of a<br />
foreign tourist, indeed, it’s very important. However, it<br />
is necessary to take into account other factors, such as<br />
reasonable prices and international service standards,<br />
comfort and the quality of hotel service. As to national<br />
cuisine, I can say that <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> cuisine is fine for us! It’s<br />
not a problem that local people do not eat much rice and<br />
seafood here. The food is varied due to the multiethnic<br />
culture. Japanese people are used to three full meals a<br />
day. I have a small comment about the accommodation<br />
in the hotels and guesthouses. Japanese people usually<br />
sleep in separate, not double beds (laughing).<br />
- Today the Government believes that tourism will<br />
develop in <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan. As a representative of a country<br />
that has achieved definite results in this sphere: How<br />
and to which target group can we promote <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan<br />
in Japan?<br />
promotional material in Japanese. Both the Internet and<br />
brochures / printed material are sources of information for<br />
our travelers. - The over 60s Japanese have the greatest<br />
potential; they are retired and have the financial means to<br />
travel. If you focus on this group of people then it would<br />
be possible to attract tourists from Japan.<br />
- What is the demand and potential for Japanese<br />
tourists to <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan?<br />
- I advise you to concentrate on smaller tour groups<br />
of up to 20 people and to provide Japanese speaking local<br />
guides. For individuals, I believe it is rather difficult to<br />
travel here.<br />
- Finally – what was your biggest surprise during<br />
your 10-day visit? What souvenirs are you taking back<br />
to Japan?<br />
- The biggest surprise is how very similar the<br />
Japanese and <strong>Kyrgyz</strong> people are in appearance (especially<br />
their faces)! I especially liked the exchanges with local<br />
people who are so gentle and kind. They know how to be<br />
happy and love life. Of course the beautiful scenery and<br />
alpine air impressed me a lot. I am taking home an artistic<br />
<strong>Kyrgyz</strong> ceramic with petroglyphs, by Jumagul Tashiev,<br />
and a small model felt yurt– since a bigger one would not<br />
fit in our small Japanese homes!<br />
- Ms. Nishio, thank you very much for this<br />
interview!<br />
The interview was conducted by Vasily Zalokar<br />
DMO project coordinator / Helvetas <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan<br />
- Advertising is the engine of the trade. It plays a<br />
special role in marketing tourism services. In order to<br />
attract tourists from Japan, it is necessary to produce
A list of interesting tourism fairs in 2007<br />
We offer to your attention a list of some interesting tourism fairs in 2007.<br />
Name of the fair Date Place Contacts<br />
МАТКА 2007<br />
Scandinavian Travel Fair<br />
18-21 January Helsinki, Finland e-mail: matka@finnexpo.fi<br />
w-site: www.matkamessut.fi<br />
FITUR<br />
International <strong>Tourism</strong> Fair<br />
31 January –<br />
4 February<br />
Madrid, Spain<br />
e-mail: fitur@ifema.es<br />
w-site: www.fituronline.com<br />
REISEN HAMBURG<br />
International fair of <strong>Tourism</strong> and Travel<br />
7-11 February Hamburg, Germany e-mail: info@hamburg-messe.de<br />
w-site: www.hamburg-messe.de<br />
BIT 2007<br />
International tourism exchange<br />
22-25 February Milan, Italy e-mail: expo@expocts.it<br />
w-site: www.bit.expocts.it<br />
ITB Berlin<br />
International <strong>Tourism</strong> exchange<br />
7-11 March Berlin, Germany e-mail: itb@messe-berlin.de<br />
w-site: www.itb-berlin.com<br />
INTOURMARKET 2007<br />
International fair of Travel and <strong>Tourism</strong><br />
18-21 March Moscow, Russia e-mail: info@itmexpo.ru<br />
w-site: www.itmexpo.ru<br />
TUR 2007<br />
A fair of travel and tourism<br />
22-25 March Geteborg, Sweden e-mail: tur@swefair.se<br />
w-site: www.turfair.com<br />
WTF 2007<br />
A World Travel Fair<br />
22-25 March Shanghai, China e-mail: josine.heijmans@vnuexhibitions.com.cn<br />
w-site: www.worldtravelfair.com.cn<br />
International Fair of the countries of tourism 25-29 March Republic of Korea e-mail: meetingsandconventions@astahq.com<br />
w-site: www.astanet.com<br />
KITF 2007<br />
The 7th Kazakh International Fair of <strong>Tourism</strong> and Travel<br />
26-28 April Almaty, Kazakhstan e-mail: contact@iteca.kz<br />
w-site: www.kitf.kz<br />
ITE HK 2007<br />
The 21st International Travel Fair<br />
14-16 June Hong Kong, China e-mail: info@tkshk.com<br />
w-site: www.itehk.com<br />
Calendar of cultural events 2007<br />
# Month Event Description Place Organizer<br />
1 March National Horse games “Kok Boru” competition Bishkek hippodrome<br />
2 March<br />
Central Asian Crafts<br />
Fair<br />
Handicraft exhibition of Central Asian artisans<br />
Bishkek, “Balazhan”<br />
Children’s centre<br />
CACSA<br />
3 March Nooruz Different events in Bishkek Bishkek Government<br />
4 April<br />
International Jazz<br />
festival<br />
Concerts, “Jam sessions, master class Bishkek Government<br />
5 May Mountain Bike Festival Mountain Bike races, and a program of entertainment<br />
Sky resort “Toguz<br />
Bulak” (near Bishkek)<br />
KMBA<br />
6 June Sabantui<br />
Tatar National Fair with folk music from many of <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan’s<br />
diverse nationalities, children games, etc.<br />
Bishkek<br />
Tatar Association<br />
7 July Festival of Felt<br />
Witness and participate in the processes of creating weaving, felt, Ala<br />
Tash-Rabat<br />
Altyn-Kol<br />
8 July<br />
Annual “Clean Up” of<br />
Son Kul<br />
Kiyiz and Shyrdaks – with games and concert of traditional Music<br />
Help preserve the pristine beauty of one of <strong>Kyrgyz</strong>stan’s remote<br />
beauty spots and enjoy the folklore program: traditional music, crafts,<br />
etc.<br />
Son-Kul<br />
9 July Manas at Son-Kul<br />
A full cultural programme of Horse games, traditional cuisine, music,<br />
crafts, erecting a yurt, etc.<br />
Son-Kul<br />
Government<br />
10 July National Horse games Kok-Boru, Kyz-Kumai, etc. Cholpon-Ata NoviNomad<br />
11 July National Horse games Kok-Boru, Kyz-Kumai, etc.<br />
Sarala-Saz, near<br />
Kochkor<br />
KATOS<br />
12 July<br />
International “Oimo”<br />
Central Asian Crafts Fair, master classes and demonstrations, theatre Tamchy, on the<br />
Festival<br />
and cinema, folk music and national cuisine tasting, fashion show, Northern Shore of Lake CACSA<br />
round table, fun competitions<br />
Issyk-Kul<br />
13 July<br />
National Cuisine and<br />
Folklore<br />
14 August Birds of Prey Festival<br />
15 August Saimaluu-Tash Festival<br />
16 August Festival of shepherds<br />
A full cultural programme of Horse games, traditional cuisine, music,<br />
crafts, erecting a yurt, etc.<br />
Demonstrations of eagle hunting and a folklore program: traditional<br />
music, crafts, etc.<br />
Visit the galleries of petroglyphs at Saimaluu Tash – the “Stonehenge<br />
of Central Asia” – horse riding<br />
A full cultural programme of Horse games, traditional cuisine, music,<br />
crafts, erecting a yurt, etc. – also helicopter flights and horse riding.<br />
Jety-Oguz<br />
Manzhyly-Ata near<br />
Barskoon<br />
(on the southern shore<br />
of Lake Issyk-Kul)<br />
Kazarman, Saimaluu-<br />
Tash<br />
Karakara Yurt Camp,<br />
Char Kuduk, in the<br />
Karakara Valley<br />
17 August Festival of Felt<br />
Witness and participate in the processes of creating weaving, felt, Ala<br />
Kiyiz and Shyrdaks – with games and concert of traditional Music<br />
Ala-Archa<br />
18 August “Kechu” Festival<br />
Cultural program: horse games, tasting of national food, musicm<br />
handicraft, yurt erection, etc.<br />
Naryn region<br />
19 August Independence Day National Kok Buro Championships Bishkek Hippodrome<br />
20<br />
September<br />
or<br />
Central Asian Crafts<br />
November<br />
Fair<br />
Crafts fair of Central Asian artisans<br />
Bishkek, “Balazhan”<br />
Children’s centre<br />
21 October<br />
Day of Arts and Craft<br />
Workers<br />
22 November At-Chabysh<br />
23 July<br />
International Summer<br />
School<br />
October 8th is the Day of Arts and Crafts workers and an Crafts fair/<br />
exhibition is organized in Bishkek - on the second Sunday in October<br />
- with a competition for the best craft items.<br />
Horse races, and a full program of traditional music, crafts, etc. on the<br />
Southern shore of Lake Issyk Kul<br />
A full educational, social and cultural programme<br />
Museum of Fine Arts in<br />
Bishkek<br />
Barskoon, Tamga and<br />
Tosor<br />
Manas University,<br />
Bishkek<br />
KATOS<br />
NoviNomad<br />
KATOS<br />
KATOS<br />
KATOS<br />
Issykkul Travel<br />
Altyn-Kol<br />
KCBTA<br />
CACSA<br />
Union of Folk Arts<br />
and Crafts<br />
<strong>Kyrgyz</strong> Ate<br />
Manas University<br />
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