On October 20, the International Business Council (IBC) held a roundtable to discuss problems and prospects of the tourism industry in Kyrgyzstan.

The event was attended by Head of the Foreign Policy Department in the rank of Deputy Chief of Staff of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sapar Isakov, Economy Minister Arzybek Kojoshev, Jogorku Kenesh deputies Abdyvakhap Nurbayev and Makhabat Mavlyanova, British Ambassador Robin Ord-Smith, Director of the Consular Service Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Erkin Asangulov, Head of the Civil Aviation Agency under the Ministry of Transport and Roads Bakyt Junushaliev, as well as heads of tourism associations and businesses in the hospitality industry and independent experts.

Sapar Isakov thanked business for the support of the Second World Nomad Games held on September 2-8 at Issyk-Kul. For the first time in the history of Kyrgyzstan, business collected nearly $3 million to conduct the Games, Isakov said.

Business should be actively involved in the strengthening of the tourist potential and other spheres, and the State should not create obstacles to business, Sapar Isakov said. He suggested establishing a permanent discussion platform on tourism issues on the basis of the International Business Council.

Economy Minister Arzibek Kojoshev urged businesses to promote tourism projects more actively. Kyrgyzstan is the only country in Central Asia to provide visa-free entry for more than 60 countries, he said.

The tourism industry is among few sectors of the economy which has the strongest multiplier effects and direct impact on more than 30 related industries. However, according to the National Statistics Committee, the share of tourism in GDP remains small and has not exceeded 4.5% in the past five years.

According to different sources, the real share of the tourism industry in GDP is much bigger, if to apply other counting methods and take into account multiplying effect of the industry, although the number of actual visitors, on the contrary, is considerably less than Kyrgyzstan’s border service reported.

Director of the Tourism Department Azamat Jamankulov presented tourism projects and told about the need to improve the availability of entry to Kyrgyzstan for foreign tourists, in particular to introduce electronic visas and direct air routes to other countries.

To improve the safety of tourists, Jamankulov suggested creating a tourist police, introducing travel insurance and developing standards for ski bases.

To develop domestic tourism and ecology, he advised to work more actively with the media, to develop itineraries for local tourists, conduct study tours and develop a program on environmental education of the population.

Deputy Director of the Civil Aviation Agency Bakyt Junushaliyev spoke about strengthening the capacity of airlines and airports in Kyrgyzstan. The Issyk-Kul Airport in Tamchi, launched recently, is capable of taking aircrafts around the clock. New direct routes have been open to cities in Russia, China, Pakistan and India.

Director the Consular Service Department Erkin Asangulov informed about the current status of the visa regulation and proposed changes and measures to simplify visa procedures through transition to the electronic visa in Kyrgyzstan.

Leaders of tourist associations also made suggestions on how to better promote the country's tourism product.

Joint recommendations to improve the tourism potential of Kyrgyzstan will be developed.