Most tourists come to Kirgizia from Russia

Most of the visitors to Kirgizia in 2011 were from Russia. This was brought to light by the President of Tour Operators Association of this country Mr. Daniyar Kazakov during a press-conference on Monday, October 10. He also pointed out that at the peak of this year’s travel season in July-August tourists were met at the Kirgizia-Kazakhstan “Ak-Zhol” border crossing, that most Russians use to get in the country) by the son of the Head of State Mrs. Roza Otounbayeva. The tourists were given brochures on Issyk-Kul’, maps of Kirgizia and the phone number of the tourist helpline.

According to Daniyar Kazakov, in order to attract more Russian tourists the country should let the Russian cross the border with no visa, and not only through this only Kazakhstan-Kirgizia border crossing, specified in the intergovernmental agreement, but via other ports of entry as well.

So far there is no accurate data on the number of Russian tourists. As per preliminary forecasts the country expects to welcome 1.6 million tourists. While in 2010 there were 1.2 million visitors.

The Kirgiz Government plans to implement visa-free regime, allowing tourists from 57 countries to stay in the country for up to 90 days – reports Regnum Agency. The country’s Authorities expect this innovation to increase the number of overseas visitors to Kirgizia. Besides, this project will positively affect other fields of everyday life of the local community.

It is in tourism industry that the Ministry of Economic Regulation of Kirgizia reports the largest decline in the rates of development in 2010. Thus the demand for the country’s hotels and restaurant fell by 11.8%. Mainly it was caused by the tense political situation and significant losses of tourist infrastructure in the South of Kirgizia, in the course of the armed conflicts.