Kyrgyzstan’s 2025-2030 sustainable tourism program aims to diversify markets, improve services, and boost GDP, positioning the country as a top year-round destination by 2030.

Kyrgyzstan has launched a comprehensive program for sustainable tourism development, aiming to transform the sector from 2025 to 2030. The draft resolution by the Cabinet of Ministers has been made available for public discussion, outlining a multi-faceted approach to boost the country’s tourism industry.

Key Focus Areas

The government’s strategy focuses on several core areas to diversify and strengthen the tourism sector:

• Market Diversification: Expanding beyond the current Central Asian and Russian markets to attract tourists globally.
• Country Promotion: Enhancing international awareness of Kyrgyzstan’s unique offerings.
• Private Sector Support: Encouraging high-quality tourism product creation through private sector involvement.
• Service Improvement: Elevating service standards to meet international expectations.                                                  Vision for 2030

By 2030, Kyrgyzstan aspires to be recognized as a premier year-round tourist destination, leveraging its rich cultural and natural heritage. The program aims to boost tourism’s contribution to the national GDP to 7% and increase the export of tourism services to 10%. Additionally, the plan projects an annual growth in foreign tourist arrivals by up to 7%, driven by strategic investments in infrastructure, education, and marketing.

Current Tourism Landscape

Presently, over 90% of tourists in Kyrgyzstan come from neighboring Central Asian countries and Russia, with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia being the top contributors. Despite this, there is a rising trend of visitors from other regions, indicating untapped potential for broader market engagement.

Adventure and Sustainable Tourism: A New Direction                             Global Trend

The global tourism industry is undergoing a significant transformation, spurred by the – COVID 19 pandemic. Sustainable tourism, which benefits the environment, local communities, and economies, is becoming increasingly vital. Kyrgyzstan is poised to embrace this trend, focusing on adventure tourism as a cornerstone of its development strategy.

UNDP’s Aid for Trade Project

Since 2018, the UNDP’s Aid for Trade project has been instrumental in promoting sustainable adventure tourism in Kyrgyzstan. The project supports micro, small, and medium tourism enterprises in regions like Osh, Jalal-Abad, Naryn, and Issyk-Kul, providing training, marketing assistance, and grants for tour equipment.

Case Studies

• Jany-Aryk Village, Naryn Region: Aizada and Ruslan Zholdoshbekov run a yurt camp and tour company offering a nomadic lifestyle experience. With support from Aid for Trade, they developed new tour products and increased their visitor numbers significantly.
• Issyk-Kul Region: The Issyk-Kul Lake, a popular destination for traditional beach holidays, is being rebranded as an adventure tourism hub. Entrepreneurs like Danyar have expanded their offerings with new hiking tours and culinary experiences, attracting more foreign tourists.
• Ton and Kochkor Districts: Ermek Shabykeev, a local tour operator, combines horseback and hiking tours with photo and video sessions, catering to modern tourists’ preferences. He also promotes environmental conservation efforts in the region.

Economic Impact

The Aid for Trade project has led to the development of nine new tour products and significant economic benefits. For example, agreements between local and foreign tour operators have generated approximately USD 32,800 in sales. Moreover, the project has created 117 new jobs in the tourism sector, highlighting its positive impact on local communities.

Future Prospects

Kyrgyzstan’s strategic focus on adventure and sustainable tourism aims to utilize the country’s natural potential fully. Continuous support for local tourism actors will ensure they can adapt to global trends and offer innovative, high-quality products. This approach not only enhances the tourism experience but also promotes economic growth and job creation, especially for women in rural areas. The comprehensive plan positions Kyrgyzstan as a rising star in the global tourism market, ready to attract a diverse and international visitor base by 2030.

Author: Sana Mubashar

Sana Mubashar is a seasoned content writer and blogger with over 5 years of global experience. She has been actively serving clients worldwide through platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. Her expertise lies in various areas including website landing page development, copywriting, blog post writing, affiliate writing, product reviews, press releases, and other types of writing. Sana excels in crafting unique content and implementing effective strategies to enhance online presence and engage target audiences.