31.05.2021-06.06.2021 No 309

CURRENT STATUS AND EXPECTATIONS OF IN Kyrgyzstan has the potential to be one of According to the World Tourism Organi- terms of nature and cultural tourism, can- the important tourism centers among zation, the number of tourists worldwide not be utilized at the desired level. In this Central Asian countries with its natural was 1.23 billion in 2016 and the income regard, the inclusion of and beauties, historical and cultural richness. obtained from this reached 1.5 trillion in the Silk Visa (akin to One of these opportunities is nature tour- dollars. In addition, 270 million people Schengen visa model), which is planned ism. Due to its mountainous terrain where work in the tourism sector worldwide. to be implemented throughout the region the Mountains cover 65% of According to the same report, between is expected to positively affect the tour- Kyrgyzstan’s land it is often referred as 1990 and 2017, the number of tourists ism sector of Kyrgyzstan. With its current the “Switzerland of Central Asia”. The worldwide increased by 576% in the Asia capacity, Kyrgyzstan has the opportunity Central Asian region is among the tour- and Pacific Ocean region. All the infor- to increase the tourist flow by 10%, ism routes that have not yet been explored mation given within this general frame- thereby generating income of more than enough with its many natural wonders work shows us that there is a global ex- 400 million dollars. It is estimated that the and historical richness. In this regard, the pansion in the tourism sector and Asian income from tourism can reach up to 1 fact that the United Nations (UN) World countries are also benefiting from this billion dollars thanks to the development Tourism Organization included Kyrgyz- growth potential to a great extent. Hosting of information technology and infrastruc- stan in the list of countries with the high- many international events in this regard in ture. est probability of increasing the number recent years also helps Kyrgyzstan to in- The number of tourists visiting Kyrgyz- of tourists in the next 10 years is a sign crease its recognition in tourism at the in- stan in 2010 was around 855 thousand. In that the country’s tourism potential is just ternational level. As one of them, it can be 2016, this number reached 2 million 930 being discovered. In this direction, the stated that the contribution of the World thousand. The data show that the number Kyrgyz government has included the Nomad Games is very important. At this of tourists visiting the country has in- tourism sector in various national devel- point, world-renowned media organiza- creased by more than 3.5 times. Accord- opment strategies in order to fully utilize tions such as Forbes, Global Spots 2013, ing to the 2017 report of the National Sta- the potential of the tourism sector. World Travel and Tourism Council, Geo- tistics Committee of the Republic of Kyr- Among these, the Sustainable Develop- gyzstan, the citizens of Kazakhstan ment Strategic Plan of the Kyrgyz Repub- graphical Travel Awards, National Geo- (55.4%) visited the country the most. Ka- lic 2013-2017 and National Development graphic Traveler, National Geographic, zakhstan is followed by tourists from Uz- Strategy 2018-2040 can be shown. Financial Times, The Guardian paid spe- bekistan (14.5%), (14.2%), Tajik- According to the Kyrgyzstan National cial attention to the World Nomad istan (7.5%), (1.6%), People’s Statistics Committee, as of 2014, there are Games. Moreover, Kyrgyzstan is among Republic of (1.2%) and 88.6 thousand (private and legal persons) the top 10 countries in the world recom- (0.6%). In this context, it can be stated businesses operating in the tourism sector mended for visiting in 2019 by The that the policies to be carried out both for of Kyrgyzstan. Issyk Kul is one of the Guardian and Lonely Planet. the neighboring countries where the most most popular and main tourism routes of When we examine the structure of the visitors come and for the citizens of for- the country. The Issyk Kul Region is de- tourism sector in Kyrgyzstan, we can see eign countries with which the country has fined as the “Pearl of Kyrgyzstan” and that there are businesses that serve in good relations will contribute to the de- takes its name from Issyk Kul, the world’s many different capacities. At this point, velopment of the tourism potential of the second largest crater lake in the region. Is- the different price practices of the enter- country in a short time. prises show us that there is no general As a result, Kyrgyzstan is a country with syk Kul is the most famous and most vis- a high potential to be one of the frequent ited touristic region of the country, offer- price policy in the sector. In this regard, dealing with the issue with a more institu- destinations of foreign tourists with its ing opportunities for local and foreign rich cultural assets and yet undiscovered tourists to relax and have a good time dur- tional understanding of the relevant insti- tutions will contribute to both the devel- natural beauties. However, in addition to ing the summer season. The Tourism De- the infrastructure problems, the lack of partment of the Minister of Culture, Infor- opment of competition conditions and the qualified workforce, inadequacies in the mation, Sports and Youth Policy of the improvement of the services offered to fields of promotion, advertising and mar- Kyrgyz Republic announced that the tourists. This will have positive effects on keting do not yet allow to achieve the ex- number of tourists visiting Kyrgyzstan in the increase in the number of tourists pected results from the tourism sector. 2018 was 1.4 million, among which more coming to the country. Considering the problems faced by the than 900 thousand tourists vacationed in All these developments have contributed tourism sector in Kyrgyzstan, determin- Issyk Kul. In the same year, tourism rev- to the positive image of Kyrgyzstan, ing it as one of the priority sectors among enues amounted to 27 billion som ($319.3 which defines itself as a touristic country the investment and development plans in million) and constituted 5% of the Gross in Central Asia. This promising potential the country is among the promising devel- Domestic Product. in the Central Asian states, especially in opments for the future of the sector.

Written by Erkinbek Turgunov, Eurasian Research Institute, Kazakhstan

Politics, Foreign Affairs, and Security Economy, Finance, and Energy Society and Culture  The Chairperson of the Kazakh Senate Mau-  The Kazakh Minister of Energy Nurlan  The Jochi Khan historical and cultural center len Ashimbayev recently visited Uzbekistan, Nogayev attended a meeting of the country’s will open under the Ministry of Education where he had a meeting with Uzbek President and Science of Kazakhstan. The center is Parliament, where he announced that Ka- meant to become a scientific center for stud- Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The parties discussed zakhstan planned to increase the volume of the development and deepening of multifac- ying the era of the Golden Horde serves as a petrochemical production up to two million tourist destination. The center has an area of eted cooperation between the two countries. tons by 2025. During the reported period, the 2,500 square meters and will include an exhi- They mentioned the importance of coopera- bition hall, hotel, tents for exhibitions and tion in mechanical engineering, textile indus- exports of the sector will increase eight times. It is expected that Kazakhstan will launch shops carrying national products and jewelry. try, transport and tourism. It was noted that in The opening of the center was first an- 2021 the trade turnover between the two five plants worth $4.7 billion and begin the construction of seven plants worth $12.7 bil- nounced at the “Ulug Ulus of the Golden countries increased by 40% (UzReport, Horde: Origins, History and Heritage” Inter- 05.06.2021). lion. The Ministry plans to attract $9.1 billion national Practical Conference held in Nur-  The President of Emomali Rah- of investments during 2021-2025 (Qazaq TV, Sultan on May 31, 2021 (Astanatimes, mon visited Pakistan, where he had a meeting 03.06.2021). 02.06.2021). with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan.  Within the framework of the St. Petersburg  The capital of Tatarstan Kazan is hosting the The parties discussed issues of comprehen- International Economic Forum, full-fledged XV International Theater Festival of Turkic sive cooperation, including political, eco- free trade agreements of the Eurasian Eco- Peoples "Nauruz". Over the course of the fes- nomic, trade, investment, energy and security nomic Union (EAEU) with Iran and India tival, 28 theaters from Kazakhstan, Uzbeki- ties. During the visit, parties sign a number of were negotiated. In 2020, bilateral trade be- stan, Kyrgyzstan, , Tajikistan agreements and memoranda of understand- and the national republics of Russia will pre- tween the EAEU members and Iran increased sent their works at six theater venues in Ka- ing. Emomali Rahmon also had a meeting by 18.5% and reached $3 billion. In the first with his Pakistani counterpart Arif Alvi. Rah- zan. The event is organized by the Ministry quarter of 2021, the EAEU’s exports to Iran of Culture of the Republic and will take place mon’s current visit aims to reinforce the ef- surged by 43.5%. Experts also paid special until the 11 of June 2021. The festival will be forts of both sides to forge a multi-dimen- attention to the development of the Interna- broadcast online on the theater's website sional relationship (Asia-Plus, 02.06.2021). tional North-South Transport Corridor kamalteatr.ru (Centralasia.media,  The State Commission of Kyrgyzstan and Ta- (Qazaq TV, 04.06.2021). 04.06.2021). jikistan on the delimitation and demarcation  Energy cooperation between Uzbekistan and  The Senate of Kazakhstan has ratified the of the state border conducted a working meet- Agreement between Kazakhstan and Azer- ing. The Commission declared that the diffi- Russia is deepening. Recently, one of the baijan on cooperation in the field of migra- cult border situation had been resolved peace- largest oil and gas companies of Uzbekistan tion. The document will allow the parties to fully. The parties signed a protocol to con- Jizzakh Petroleum signed a four-sided Mem- exchange information about legal entities and tinue efforts for peaceful resolution of the orandum of Understanding with Russia’s individuals operating in the territories of the border conflict, which included measures to Gazprombank, VEB.RF investment firm and two countries. The agreement is aimed at cre- withdraw border posts 3 km inland on each the Russian Agency for Export Credit and In- ating a legal basis for cooperation between side and withdraw military equipment to their vestment Insurance for the financing of the the two countries in the field of migration and permanent deployment sites, leaving only new greenfield gas chemical complex worth the implementation of joint measures to regular border guards (Kabar, 05.06.2021). counter illegal migration (Avesta-news.kz, $2.8 billion. The parties will cooperate with 04.06.2021).  The Prime Minister of Irakli Gari- respect to the financing of the project and the insurance of the risk in the amount of $800  The number of foreign citizens living in Rus- bashvili visited Ankara, where he met with sia continues to decline due to the corona- the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Er- million preliminarily (UzReport, virus pandemic. As of May 1, 2021, the num- dogan. The sides discussed a range of issues 04.06.2021). ber of foreign citizens in the country of mutual interest and regional cooperation.  According to the National Bank of Kyrgyz- amounted to 5.66 million, compared to 7.1 While making a press statement, the Prime stan, in the first quarter of 2021, the country million at the end of 2020 and 9.6 - 11.2 mil- Minister of Georgia announced that destiny experienced positive dynamics in the volume lion in 2019. The vast majority (86%) of had decided that the three states, , of remittance inflows. In particular, during those who come to Russia are citizens of Georgia and Turkey, are interdependent, countries of the Commonwealth of Independ- have very close cooperation, partnership and the reported period the amount of remittances ent States . Most of all, the number of citizens most importantly friendship. The Turkish increased by 22.4% year-on-year amounting of and Moldova decreased - by 53% President noted that Ankara viewed Tbilisi as to $420 million. The inflow of remittances is and 51%, respectively. There is also a signif- the “key to regional cooperation,” and critical for the household incomes of mi- icant decline of citizens of Kyrgyzstan (by stressed in this regard the importance of tri- grants’ families. In January-April of 2021, 18%), Armenia (by 22%) and Tajikistan (by lateral cooperation with Azerbaijan (Civil.ge, the growth of real GDP excluding the Kumtor 35%) (Avesta.tj, 03.06.2021). 02.06.2021). minefields amounted to 1.1% (Kabar,  Kyrgyzstan launched a climate knowledge  The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart 01.06.2021). and information platform with the support of Tokayev held a telephone conversation with  According to the representative of the Euro- the UN Climate Change Learning Partnership pean Bank for Reconstruction and Develop- (UNCC): Learn Project on Climate Change his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Education in the Kyrgyz Republic, financial Reviewing the course of development of bi- ment (EBRD) in Turkmenistan Anton Usov, support from the Swiss government and lateral cooperation and the current agenda of the Bank’s cumulative investments in the methodological support from The United Na- regional relations, the Presidents noted the country amounted to $350 million. Usov tions Institute for Training and Research similarity of the aspirations of the two coun- mentioned that the EBRD’s current portfolio (UNITAR) and United Nations Development tries for further systematic deepening of stra- was $85 million. The Bank is exploring pro- Programme (UNDP). The initiative is aimed tegic cooperation. The sides also emphasized ject opportunities in the banking and munici- at strengthening institutional capacity, the importance of the full implementation of pal sectors. Its key strategic priority is to sup- providing information and create a dialogue the agreements in various fields reached at port Turkmenistan’s private sector develop- platform on climate change and climate fi- the top-level meetings (Centralasia.news, ment. The Bank provides long-term finance nance for all stakeholders. (Kabar, 04.06.2021). directly to local private sector firms and sup- 04.06.2021).  While visiting Pakistan, the Speaker of the ports them through the Trade Facilitation  The government of Uzbekistan organized a Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mustafa Program (Trend, 06.06.2021). research expedition in Karakalpakstan to Sentop was received by the President of Pa- study the potential and value of the region’s kistan Arif Alvi. The sides discussed various  A delegation from Turkey’s Nuclear Regula- cultural heritage sites. The expedition took aspects of the bilateral relations noting that tory Authority visited the Belarusian nuclear place under the auspices of the International they were based on religious and cultural power plant. The visit was organized in coop- Institute for Central Asian Studies (IICAS) eration with the Nuclear and Radiation Safety and with the support of University College linkages, besides unanimity of views on re- London within the framework of the Central gional and international issues. It was empha- Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry to implement the memorandum of Asian Archaeological Landscapes project. sized that Turkey and Pakistan needed for The researchers explored an area of over further enhanced political and economic co- understanding between the parties. The dele- 5,000 hectares and obtained information on operation for the mutual benefits of the two gation was acquainted with the current state 53 monuments of the region. The recommen- sides. Referring to Pakistan’s disputes with of the first and the second units of the nuclear dations developed by experts will help to India, Mustafa Sentop said that Turkey would power plant, the work of the control room form a strategy for the inclusion of objects in continue to support Pakistan’s stance on personnel and the equipment used in the local the prestigious international UNESCO list Kashmir (Anadolu Agency, 02.06.2021). training facility (BelTA, 03.06.2021). (Uzdaily, 02.06.2021).

Prepared by Zhengizkhan Zhanaltay and Kanat Makhanov