Almaty – Bishkek Corridor Initiative
Second Joint Working Group Meeting
Bengaluru, India
4-6 August 2015
TOURISM ISSUES
TOURISM MEASUREMENT
CONSTRAINTS AND POSSIBLE
ACTIONS
Defining the Tourist -1
Tourists
Visitors
Same day visitors
Travellers
Others
Defining the Tourist -2
T
y
p
e
s
C
a
t
e
g
o
r
i
e
s
Residents
travelling inside the
economic territory of
the country
Non residents travelling
inside the
economic territory of
the country
Residents travelling
outside the economic
territory of the
country of residence
Domestic
Inbound
Outbound
Internal
National
International
Tourism Statistics for the Corridor-1
• Accurate disaggregated data on Kazakh and
Kyrgyz residents crossing the border are not
readily available
• At a national level Kazakhstan had 4.56m
international arrivals in 2014 and Kyrgyzstan
had 2.85m but this includes day trips
• Kazakh visitors to Kyrgyzstan represents 71%
of the total and Kyrgyz visitors to Kazakhstan
represents 20% of their total
Tourism Statistics for the Corridor- 2
• 70% of international arrivals in Kazakhstan are
for ‘personal’ reasons, visiting friends and
relations or for holiday
• 30% of international arrivals in Kazakhstan are
for business
• Purpose of visit breakdown for Kyrgyzstan is not
available but will be similar
• Tourism share of GDP is 0.3% in Kazakhstan
and 1.7% in Kyrgyzstan
Addressing Statistics Weaknesses
• Kyrgyzstan tourism
statistics, collection,
compilation & capacity
need revision but
USAID study provides
roadmap
• Immediate need is for
an inbound/outbound
survey for purpose of
visit, expenditure and
length of stay etc.
• Kazakhstan tourism
statistics are more
comprehensive due to
participation in UNWTO
statistics workshops
• Immediate need is for
better disaggregated
demand side data to be
made available from
existing surveys
Addressing Statistics Weaknesses
• Kazakhstan/Almaty statistics do not provide data
from the Border Security/Immigration Service
identifying the number of Kyrgyz arrivals
crossing at each border post
• Kazakhstan/Almaty statistics do not provide data
from the Hotel Survey identifying the residency
of their guests
• Kazakhstan/Almaty statistics do not provide data
from the Household Survey identifying the
destinations of domestic or international travel
TOURISM ACCESS CONSTRAINTS
AND POSSIBLE ACTIONS
Tourism Access Constraints and Possible
Actions
Constraint
• Visa – free entry for
nationals of 40+
countries to
Kyrgyzstan but only
for nationals of 10
countries to
Kazakhstan
Possible Action
• Kazakhstan to extend
its visa-free entry
policy to broadly
match the Kyrgyzstan
position
Tourism Access Constraints and Possible
Actions
Constraint
• Road border crossing
procedures for
Kazakh nationals into
Kyrgyzstan and for
Kyrgyz nationals into
Kazakhstan are
difficult
Possible Action
• Interior and Foreign
Ministry officials of
both nations to meet
and resolve the
problem followed by
seminars for Border
Force staff to
sensitise them to the
new procedures
Tourism Access Constraints and Possible
Actions
Constraint
• Tien Shan mountain
pass border crossings
for hikers and
trekkers are closed
Possible Action
• Kazakh and Kyrgyz
Ministries of Tourism
to discuss and sign
the Memorandum of
Understanding
prepared by
Kazakhstan to allow
seasonal access
across the mountains
Tourism Access Constraints and Possible
Actions
Constraints
Possible Actions
• Road journey distances
and travel times from
Almaty to Lake Issyk-Kul
are lengthy
• Undertake the necessary
technical, environmental
and financial analyses of
alternative new road
proposals including one
across the mountains
from Almaty to CholponAta, one around the
mountains by Kemin and
another via Tyup
TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Tourism Product Development Constraints and
Opportunities
Constraints
Opportunities
• Lack of a sustainable
trekking/hiking network of
trails and associated
infrastructure across the
Tien Shan Mountains
• Shortage of trained
guides to lead trek and
mountain groups
• Commission a study to
identify a network of trails
of varying length and
challenge with supporting
infrastructure (mountain
shelters, campsites,
toilets etc.)
• Develop cross-border
training courses
Tourism Product Development Constraints and
Opportunities
Constraints
Opportunities
• Lack of harmonised hotel
and guest house
standards between
Bishkek /Lake Issyk –Kul
and Almaty
• Lack of integrated ski
resort infrastructure for
the Bishkek ski slopes
• Commission a study to
review existing practises
and harmonise them with
current international and
UNWTO standards
• Prepare a project concept
and feasibility study for
possible financing under
PPP framework
Tourism Product Development Constraints and
Opportunities
Constraints
Opportunities
• Lack of adequate
roadside amenities
provision on the Almaty –
Bishkek - Lake Issyk-Kul
road network
• Develop a sustainable
roadside amenities
product with a flexible
facilities mix, visual and
environmentally sensitive
design and a feasibility
study for financing under
a possible PPP
framework
Tourism Product Development Constraints and
Opportunities
Constraints
Opportunities
• Lack of a modern, multipurpose conference and
exhibition space on the
northern shore of Lake
Issyk – Kul
• Absence of Destination
Management
Organisations in Bishkek
and Lake Issyk-Kul
• Develop a concept and
prepare a feasibility study
for possible financing
under a possible PPP
framework
• Establish a legal
operating framework for
these offices/companies
with public/private
cooperation and with
possible donor support
Tourism Product Development Constraints and
Opportunities
Constraints
• Lack of trained hotel staff
at Lake Issyk-Kul in
reception, housekeeping
and other guest engaged
roles
• Absence of an effective
land-use zoning plan to
guide development on the
shores of Lake Issyk-Kul
Opportunities
• Organise pre/in-season
training programmes in
association with a leading
vocational hospitality
skills training institution
• Commission a study to
examine the current
situation and to
recommend a remedial
strategy
Tourism Product Development Constraints and
Opportunities
Constraints
• Inadequate sewage
treatment, water
treatment and rubbish
disposal infrastructure in
the main tourist resort
area of Cholpon-Ata,
Lake Issyk-Kul
• Stressed lake and
immediate environment at
Lake Issyk-Kul
Opportunities
• Commission an evaluation
of the current infrastructure
treatment capacities and
demands and propose a
waste treatment investment
and management plan
under a possible PPP
framework
• Commission a long-term
sustainable management
plan for the Lake
Tourism Product Development Constraints and
Opportunities
Constraints
• Lack of an integrated
mountain rescue and
treatment service across
both sides of the Tien
Shan Mountains
• Low visibility of Bishkek
and Almaty use of their
historic joint connectivity
with The Silk Road
Opportunities
• Both national health and
emergency services to
cooperate with private
sector providers to
examine provision of
such services
• Both cities to work
together to initiate the Silk
Road Mayor’s Forum with
UNESCO/UNWTO
Tourism Product Development Constraints and
Opportunities
Constraints
• Lack of trained
archaeology and museum
conservation staff in the
Ministries of Culture and
related specialist
institutes
• Lack of cooperation
between Ministries and
Federations of Sport
Opportunities
• Both Ministries to assist one
another with exchanges of
experienced staff to improve
capacities and
understanding
• Creation of joint sports
training, events and
competitions e.g. a Tien
Shan cycle race, winter
sports and Nomadic Games
THANK YOU