Kyrgyz Tourism

Kyrgyz Tourism
TODAY
Quarterly Newsletter of the Destination Marketing
Association Kyrgyz Tourism/DMA
¹1 FEBRUARY
2007
Content:
Kyrgyzstan - a real life fairytale – стр. 2
Elections have taken place and
planshave been laid – стр. 2
News from DMA – стр. 3
Tourism 2006: what was, what is and
where we are going – стр. 3
The South welcomes you with open arms – стр. 5
Naturally Nepal, once is not enough – стр. 6
Peace and stability are most important – стр. 7
A little bit about the history of winter sports – стр. 8
Where to go for the weekend? – стр. 8

Association news
«Once upon a time
there was a tsar who
had three daughters.
The first was as
beautiful as a rose – her
bright beauty attracted
attention at once, the
second was as pretty
as a lily – her perfect
appearance affected
everybody and the
third was like a violet,
it is not seen at once
among splendid flowers, but the one who notices it
remembers its nice image for ever …»
So, Kyrgyzstan should be seen as a violet
among the splendid blooms of the tourism world
and whoever can find this picturesque land on a
map will forever keep a part of it in his/her heart. In
discovering our country for oneself, a person opens
a veritable treasure chest – crystal clear rivers,
fields covered with tulips, turquoise mountains and
emerald forests.
In all this our Association is like a skillful
jeweller, who having gathered all the gems into a
glittering tiara, is searching for connoisseurs able to
These include creating a website about
Kyrgyzstan for tourists, image brochures, publishing
articles in tourism newspapers and magazines and
printing booklets and this involves creating a database
of professionally taken photos of Kyrgyzstan.
Active cooperation with the MFA and KR
Embassies has enabled us to make contacts with
clients and inform them of new tour products.
World experience shows that participating in
international exhibitions and fairs also promotes
recognition of a country, its image, attractiveness
and sales of tours and with this in mind, members
approved our participation the following tourism
exhibitions: JATA 2007 in Japan, ITB 2007 in
Berlin, Intourmarket 2007 in Moscow, and KITF
2007 in Almaty.
Four new members of the Board and the
Association Board Chair from the private sector
were elected:
Kyrgyzstan - a real life fairytale
see the real value of our land. Kyrgyzstan is unique
in all respects – in a small area many nationalities
and religions live peacefully and in harmony and
in one day one can see all the seasons of the year
and the entire Mendeleev table can be found in the
interior of our land. The list is endless, but, of course,
the main decoration and value of our small nook is
its inhabitants – the people. Last summer, when
our company was arranging for the Amsterdam –
Beijing Rally to pass through Kyrgyzstan, many of
the participants noted that they had never been met
anywhere in such a friendly manner.
The sum of natural resources and cultural
and historical values combined with the inherent
hospitality of the population make ideal conditions
for creating a client-oriented service oasis in Central
Eurasia.
Our aim is to show Kyrgyzstan in all its glory and
we are open to the world, new ideas, and cooperation
for the good and prosperity of Kyrgyzstan.
Elections have taken place and plans have been laid
Ainura Sydykova –
Daniyar Kazakov –
Sergey Pyshnenko –
Mirali Mukhamedziev–
Alina Melnichuk –
Board Chair
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Members of the Audit Commission for 2007
were re-elected:
Alia Hasanova –
Nadezhda Usacheva –
Zamira Kalmakova –
Ainura Sydykova,
DMA Council Co-Chair,
General Manager, Kyrgyz Concept
The Annual General Meeting of members of the Kyrgyz Tourism Association was held on
December 6th 2006. The main issue on the agenda was to approve the marketing plan for 2007. What
the new tourism season will look like will depend on this document’s effectiveness. Informing the
world community and potential clients of the tourism opportunities and attractiveness of the country
were top priorities and as a result 14 events in the marketing plan were approved.
Commission Chair
Commission member
Commission member
Let us wish them every success in their work
and a good season for all of us!
Suita Bekmuratova,
Executive Director of the Kyrgyz Tourism
Association

Tourism news
News from DMA
Логотип для туристского Кыргызстана News of structural changes
Many of you have already heard of the
designing of a new logo and slogan for Kyrgyzstan
as a country of tourism commissioned by the Kyrgyz
Tourism Association for promoting Kyrgyzstan as a
country of tourism\ DMA. The well-known designer
Evgeniy Boikov was commissioned and the results
of his work are on the front cover of this issue. We
hope that this logo will be well accepted inside our
country and abroad by both trade professionals and
tourists.
About Trade Fairs
The First Bishkek International Tourism Trade
Fair, Tourism and Travel BITF - 2006 was the
first chance to promote the state’s informationadvertising
campaign and enabling Kyrgyz tour
products to become widely known to the world.
With government support in 2006 Kyrgyzstan
took an active part in all the leading international
tourism trade fairs in Germany, Japan, Russia and
Kazakhstan gaining awards and diplomas.
About statistics
If we look at the tourism sector indicators we
can see the positive changes that tourism activities
have had on the state budget. There has been an
increase in tourism’s share of GDP - in 2006 - 4%,
2005 - 3.5%.
There has been a steady growth in income from
foreign tourists from USD 71.6 mln in 2005 to USD
116 mln in the first 9 months of 2006.
The Kyrgyz Republic Jogorku Kenesh has
approved a new structure of the Kyrgyzstan
Government, under which tourism development
issues will be dealt with by a newly established State
Tourism Agency and we would like to congratulate
Turusbek Chukuevich on his appointment as its
Director.
Information from the 24.kg. news agency:
Mamashev Turusbek Chukuevich was born in 1956
in Kara-Kulja rayon of Osh oblast of Kyrgyz parents.
In 1986 he graduated from Leningrad Institute of
Cinema Engineering as a sound technician
His first job was at the Kyrgyzfilm studio as a
sound operator
From 1991-2005 he was the President of
Dasmia Ltd
From October 2005 to February 7th 2007 –
Deputy Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism
From February 7th 2007 - Director of the State
Tourism Agency
По материалам ИА «24.kg.»
Tourism 2006: what was, what is and where we are going
In recent years, thanks to state support, and a fortunate state of affairs in world markets,
international tourism is playing an important role in the republic, through contributing to the socioeconomic
development of our state. On the initiative of the President, tourism has become a key segment
in the economic development of Kyrgyzstan as part of the Country Development Strategy (CDS) for
2006-2010 and in accordance with Presidential Decree №307 On creating favourable conditions for
the 2005 tourism season and measures for the future development of tourism in the Kyrgyz Republic
dated 6th August 2005, tourism was designated an important part of the economy of Kyrgyzstan, having
distinct export potential and increasing the state budget. Various measures were organised to put these
ideas into effect.
According to Border Guards data, in the first 9
months of 2006 there have been 900,000 incoming
tourists, a 21.9 % increase on 2005.
About 80% of these are holidaymakers from
CIS countries, including 60% from Kazakhstan,
Russia (15%) and Uzbekistan (3%). About 20% of
tourists were Kyrgyz Citizens and foreigners made
up 2% of the total.
In the first 9 months of 2006 income from
foreign tourists was 4.5 billion soms - 20.4% of
total exports.
Added value in tourism was 2883.9 mln soms,
28.8% higher than in 2004 and 23.2% higher than
in 2005.
In the first 9 months of 2006 the number of
businesses offering holiday and leisure services was
4952, 10.6% more than in 2004 and 3.8% more than
in 3.8%.

Opinion
There has been an increase in the turnover of
restaurants, bars, cafeterias and other businesses
serving prepared food, 605 more than in 2004 and
30.3% more than in 2005.
As of 1st October it was estimated that income
from excursions nationwide were worth 383.2
million soms, 44% more than in the corresponding
period in 2004 and 58.9% more than in 2005.
Sanatoria-resort hotel services for the first 9
months of 2006 were worth 424.2 mln soms 27.6%
higher than for the corresponding period in 2004
and 45.6% higher than in 2005.
The value of short stay services for hotels and
other places was 586.4 mln soms, 16.4% more than
in 2004 and 20.6% more than in 2005.
About finance
It should be noted that state budget support for
tourism development in 2006 was 4136.5 thousand
soms.
In order to receive stable income to the budget
from the tourism industry it is necessary to invest
heavily in its development. It is necessary to conduct
research in the republic with the aim of opening
reserves of tourism capacity and based on that
drawing up a programme to develop tourism, set up
international and regional tourism centres, organise
training, improve staff qualifications, adverts etc.
About tourism policy
About 20 Ministries and departments are
involved in implementing the tourism policy of
Kyrgyzstan: Ministries of the Economy and Finance,
Transport and Communications, Culture, Internal
affairs, Education, Statistics and Analysis, Labour
etc. In 2000 coordination of their activities in the
interests of tourism development was given to the
Interdepartmental Coordination Council, chaired by
the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Currently, radical changes are taking place in
the system for managing tourism. It is necessary
to ‘industrialise’ the tourism branch to improve
the volume of tourism products that means
introducing new capacities: hotels, air, road and
communications links, which will require creating
the political and economic conditions and stimuli
that will allow investment in developing the tourism
infrastructure.
Gulmira Karymshakova,
Head of the Tourism Training Section, Ministry of
Industry, Trade and Tourism;
Elmira Adylkanova,
Head of the Tourism Planning and Development
Department, Ministry of Industry, Trade and
Tourism.

Made in KG
The South welcomes you with open arms
When someone mentions Kyrgyzstan it is probably in reference to the pearl of Central Asia, Issyk-
Kul Lake. Many Kyrgyz residents could not imagine spending a summer holiday without visiting
this attractive, warm place. However, there are other natural beauties of Kyrgyzstan that are just as
rewarding. Trips to Song-Kul Lake, summer holidays on the jailoo around the lake, visits to the Sary-
Chelek reserves and tours to the Ala-Too Mountains are already favourite pastimes of Kyrgyz residents
and foreign guests and the choice of places for people who like to relax is continuously expanding
to include the Alai Valley and visits to Irkeshtam, holy places in the Aksyi area, Batken Valley and
the jailoo at the foot of Lenin Peak. KCBTA (Kyrgyz Community Based Tourism Association) has
implemented the first phase of a project to organise four new CBT groups in the south of the country
with financial support from the OSCE. Under this project, groups in Kerben, Gulcho, Batken, and
Sary-Mogol have had courses and seminars on how to welcome and look after tourists.
It is hard to calculate how many mazars (burial
grounds) lie hidden in various places of our small
country and each mazar has its own history and
location. People are trying to discover and visit them
to get blessings for success and good luck or they
want to pray to the spirits. The Kerben CBT group
offers a tour to Padysha-ata mazar, a holy place
where you can see all the beauties of the Aksyi area
when staying in wonderful houses amidst amazing
countryside. This is a particularly good area for
family holidays and you will feel refreshed and
reinvigorated for the year ahead.
Kurmanzhan Datka was Queen of the Alai area
and a legend in the history and life of Kyrgyzstan.
If you would like to walk the very places where
Mannergame got to know Kurmanzhan Datka the
Gulcho CBT group can arrange it for you. The
unique beauty of the Alai Valley will appear before
you as you climb the Chyiyrchyk Pass (80 km
from Osh) on your horse. Only two hours separate
the present and antiquity because the white yurtas
of chabans (herdsmen) stand everywhere, as they
have done throughout the ages. The herdsmen will
be happy to treat you to kumys (fermented mare’s
milk) and boorsok (special bread). If you are tired
of city life and want peace and solitude you should
visit Alai. Feel free on the vast expanses of Alai!
Batken is not only the most remote region in our
state but also the least known, but is well known for
its wild apricot orchards. In spring, when these trees
are in blossom they inspire a feeling of pure bliss, as
if you are under the clouds in paradise. The beauty
of Batken’s mountains attracts people from all over
the world to visit the famous twin rocks. There are
only three similar rocks in the world, in Pakistan,
Southern Patagonia, and here in Kyrgyzstan. The
Batken CBT group welcomes its guests into cozy
houses offering a full range of services. Historical
places, such as the last refuge of the Kokand Khan,
a mountain where the famous Aigul flower blooms
– all of this and more await visitors to the Batken
area. Before departing, you should visit a local
market/bazaar where you can buy the best dried
apricots, nuts/walnuts, and Batken rice at really
amazing prices!
Фото: Байзаковой
оо
The name Sary Mogol means almost nothing
but if you want to get to Lenin Peak you are on the
right road. This is an ideal place for people who
would like to visit high mountain jailoos, ride a yak,
drink some kumys, and see mountain lakes. The
Sary Mogol CBT group will be able to show you all
of this and more and can organise a folklore show or
national horseback games, in which the entire group
takes part. A night spent in a yurta on the banks of
the Tulpar-kol River at the foot of Lenin Peak will
make you feel as if the whole world is beneath your
feet and only the galaxy sits above your head!
Many discoveries await you in our republic
and they will awaken your desire and craving for
travel!
Zamira Baizakova,
Project Coordinator of the Kyrgyz Community
Based Tourism Association

Learning from experience
Naturally Nepal, once is not enough
“Let yourself go…Naturally Nepal, once is
not enough”, this is how the new tourism slogan
of Nepal sounds. As you have already guessed we
will talk today about the small mountain country
of Nepal that is similar to our republic in many
respects and about how this small, poor state has
gained worldwide recognition and what they did
and are doing to promote their country.
This is done by Nepal’s Tourism Council that
was created in 1998 by a Parliamentary resolution in
the form of a partnership between the Government of
Nepal and the private sector to develop and promote
Nepal as an attractive tourism destination.
Фото: Кубана ова
о
Naturally Nepal is a common phrase that
presents Nepal in a positive light making tourists
choose Nepal.
Once is not enough not only attracts attention
and takes tourists’ breath away when leaving the
airport but it also it serves as a tool to help people
decide to make a repeat visit to Nepal in order to
explore and get to know it better next time.
Nepal opened to foreigners comparatively
recently and whilst having saved its originality and
special energy; it is also, at the same time, creating
the conditions for accepting tourists from all over the
world. There are the highest eight peaks in the world
in the well-known Annapurna and Machapukchi
Mountain Ranges and thousands of mountain
trekking routes pass through the most picturesque
places. Rafting and kayaking on mountain rivers are
very popular. In addition to its image of the “Mecca
of Mountaineering” tourists are very interested in
Nepal’s history and culture, as this is an ancient,
unspoilt country. Monasteries, temples, thousands
of religious rites, ceremonies and festivals, rich
history and mythology of the country and the unique
coexistence of dozens of races and religions make
the country very interesting for all its visitors.
In the next five years, Nepal will be promoted
as “the mountain country for weekend leisure,
adventure tourism and spending time getting
experience of life for people who live in large cities
and travel all over the world”.
The Tourism Council promotes Nepal in the
domestic and international market and is working
towards re-positioning the country’s image and is
aiming to regulate activities on working out tour
products in the future. Funding for the Tourism
Council comes in the form of a tax on incoming
tourists at the international airport in Katmandu,
which keeps it financially independent. The
Secretariat of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism,
and Civil Aviation presides over the Council and
consists of the 11 members of the Council, five
representatives from the state, five representatives
from the private sector, and one managerial
executive employee. As a result of all the Tourism
Council’s efforts, Nepal, as a country, is well known
in world tourism markets, and, as a consequence the
numbers of tourists continue to grow in spite of the
difficult political situation in the country.
Damira Raeva,
DMO Project Manager \ Helvetas Kyrgyzstan
Article taken from the website:
www.welcomenepal.com
Brief information about Nepal
Area: 147,181 sq. km
Geographical location: located between China to
the north and India to the south
Capital city: Katmandu
Population: 23 million
People: over 103 ethnic groups
Climate: from sub-tropical to arctic
State language: Nepalese

At first hand
Last year tourism industry revenue accounted for one quarter of the budget of the Republic or
200 mln USD. According to the experts the season was successful. What direction will the country
work in and what problems will it solve in tourism? This we will discuss today with the At First
Hand column’s guest, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Turusbek Chukuevich
Mamashev.
- Turusbek
Chukuevich, it would
be good to begin
our conversation by
mentioning the positive
changes in tourism. What
were the results like this
year and what are the
prospects for 2007?
- In general 2006
was very successful for
Kyrgyz tourism due to
many different factors.
In May last year we held the first Kyrgyz tourism
fair, Tourism and travel BITF-2006, attended
by tour operators and mainstream mass media
representatives from many countries. About 5,000
people visited the exhibition in Bishkek from all
regions of Kyrgyzstan and neighbouring and distant
countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan,
Turkmenistan and Russia. During the visit of the
Secretary of State to Almaty and the official visit of
President Bakiyev to Astana our side spoke of the
leisure opportunities for Kazakhs in Kyrgyzstan and
that we would ensure the safety and good quality
of our guests’ leisure. This top-level endorsement
gave a powerful impetus to Kazakhs’ interest in
our country. Journalists from Kazakhstan who had
seen the exhibition and Issyk-Kul made sure that
preparations for the season were being made at
full speed. The response was positive articles and
comments in the mass media, which influenced
public opinion and the number of tourists. Secondly,
the weather was kind and thirdly, our journalists also
played a significant role. If we can popularise our
tourism our work will also develop. That is why I
would like to express my gratitude to the journalists
for their cooperation.
- What lessons have we learnt from last year?
- The main problem of local tourism is the lack
of staff. Regretfully we cannot provide high levels
of service. We particularly lack qualified personnel
– waiters and bartenders. Secondly, services offered
by us, the infrastructure of inhabited areas and the
Peace and stability are most important
state of the roads should also be improved. The
traffic police, customs, and frontier guards are also
sometimes criticized and unnecessary checks are
made for various reasons. Meeting guests with a
smile and seeing them off with grateful looks are
still alien to us and we are working on this with
all Ministries and Departments. If we do not have
a common policy on this, holidaymakers will be
affected and this means that we are the only losers.
Currently our department is preparing a whole
package of laws and regulations to regulate these
issues.
- What legislative initiatives have been
undertaken regarding tourism and what is being
done to improve it?
- The legislative base of tourism is still weak
and needs strengthening. Currently, we are unable to
even get accurate figures of the numbers of tourists
who have visited our country. In neighbouring
republics the migration services have been working
on this for a long time and control the process.
When crossing the border each visitor should fill in
a migration card, indicating the dates and purpose
of stay. If we had such a system, it would already be
clear how many tourists visit the country and what
revenue we get. Taking into account global practice
it is necessary to firm up the law on migration,
make changes and amendments to the laws on the
customs, border guards and tourism.
- Turusbek Chukuevich, where do you spend
your holidays? Where will you go this year?
- Only Issyk-Kul. But sometimes I do not have
time to relax, even in winter. I have been to more than
30 countries of the world, but haven’t seen a better
country than Kyrgyzstan. The Turkish Minister of
culture and tourism Atilla Koch, on visiting Issyk-
Kul for the first time was surprised that we posses
such a miracle. Our country is a God-given land.
The season is almost upon us and if we can maintain
peace, stability and harmony then even the weather
will not affect the mood of our guests.
Tynymgul Eshieva

A little bit about the history of winter sports
The oldest known skis are in the Skiing Museum
in Oslo: they are 110 cm long and 20 cm wide
The first mountain skiing instructor can be said
to have been the great polar explorer Fritofa Nansen
who wrote a complete treatise about skiing with
detailed instructions on how to control skis when
descending mountains.
The first skiing contest was held in 1844 in the
Norwegian town of Tromso that apart from racing
along a ravine included descending the slopes of
neighbouring mountains and trampolining.
However, the founders of modern winter sports
are not considered to be the Norwegians but the
Austrians. In 1895, the Austrian mountaineer and
skier Mathias Zdarskiy was the first to use a nonstop
descent with turns; he invented a plough, the
first support equipment. At the end of the 19th
Century he published the first textbook on winter
sports equipment, expounding the virtues of group
training.
From www.onboard.ru
Where to go for the weekend?
Oorusai Kashkasuu Toguz Bulak Orlovka Karakol
Location
Alaarcha Gorge
Kyzylbeles tract
Kashkasuu tract towards the
climbers’ camp
Chui oblast, Issyk-
Ata rayon, Toguz
Bulak village
Orlovka village
13 km from Karakol
Distance from
Bishkek
35 km 35 km 40 km 100 km 413 km
Working hours 24/7
Normal working hours
7 days a week
Orders within working hours
From Tuesday
to Sunday 10.00
to 16.00, Sunday
– day off
Daily
During the day
from 9.00 to 17.00
In the evening:
from 20.00 to
22.00
9.00-16.00 daily
Use of ski lift:
• 250 som/day/
individual
• 300 som/day
• Towing – 300 som/day
• Joint ticket – 350 som
• Single slope – 70 som
• 300 som/day
• 70 som/day
• 300 som/day
• 50 som/time
• 250 som/day
Equipment hire:
• Skis
• Snowboard
• Quad bikes,
snowmobiles
• 350-500 som/day
• 350-500 som/day
• No quad bikes
• 150-400 som/day
• Skates – 70-100 som
• 600 som/day
• 600 som/day
• 100 som/min
• 200 to 600
som/day
• 600 som/day
• 500 som/day
• 500 som/day
• 4000 som/hour
Accommodation
From 400 som per
person +
Double room – 800 som/day
Triple room – 1200 som/day
from 500 som to
USD 100
from 150 som to
2500 som
Single room /2000
som
Meals
Three meals a day
350 som per person
(cafe, disco, billiards,
tennis, DVD)
Three meals a day 400-540 som
per person
Made to order – by arrangement
(65 room hotel, bar, restaurant,
sauna, conference hall, car park)
Cafe, bar,
restaurant
700 som – three
meals a day
Restaurant
three meals a day
- 600 som/person
Instructor 250 som/hour 500 som/hour
300 som/hour/
person
1000 som/day
500 som/hour
Contacts
0-312 66 58 54
0-517 75 34 05
0-312 58 06 68
Shafikulin Ilyaz
0-312 59 48 35 (administrator)
0-502 22 24 41
0-502 22 24 43
0-312 90 83 07
0-312 93 64 79
0-517 75 79 98
0-502 44 66 66
0-517 71 02 03
Volodya Kuzmin
0-312 93 78 73
0-312 53 18 70
0-312 58 24 28
0-502 54 28 88
Valeriy Iosiphovich
Buikov
This Newsletter is published quarterly
The Editors accept no responsibility
for the content of advertisements
If re-printed – reference to this
publication is mandatory.
Printed by PrintHouse Printers
Circulation – 500 copies.
Editorial board:
Tynymgul Eshieva, Damira Raeva
Cover photo by Sergey Pyshnenko
To place advertisements and classifieds
please contact:
Apt. 19, 231, Tynystanova Str.
Tel.: 66 41 27
Fax: 90 87 38
e-mail: dma@elcat.kg