Cultural and Soft Adventure Tourism in Kyrgyzstan
Considering the variety of tourist products, this category examines two typical packages – one in the lower price range and the other in the higher range. Both packages are cultural tours lasting nine days/ten nights in Kyrgyzstan. Cultural tourism mainly attracts tourists from distant foreign countries. The second, more expensive tour is priced at 2,550 USD per person. The itinerary: Bishkek–Chichkan–Jalal-Abad–KazarMan–Naryn–Kochkor–Karakar–Cholpon-Ata–Bishkek. No discounts are offered regardless of group size. The package includes one-night accommodation in a hotel in Bishkek, lodging and meals in guesthouses at each stop on the route, ground transportation, an English-speaking guide, a demonstration of falconry, and museum tickets.
The price of the first package fluctuates, depending on group size, from 1,320 USD per person for a group of two to 690 USD per person for a group of seven to eight people. Currently, this is the cheapest tour on the market. The itinerary is Bishkek–Chon Kemin–Karakar–Jety-Oguz–Kochkor–Son Kul–Kyzyl Oi–Bishkek. Accommodation prices are based on double occupancy in a room. The fee for an additional separate room is 65 USD. The trip includes a two-day stay in a three-star hotel in Bishkek and seven nights of lodging and meals in guesthouses, yurts, or homes at each stop on the route. Ground transportation in minibuses, a multilingual guide, a demonstration of felt souvenirs, and museum tickets are included in the price.
The second, more expensive tour is priced at 2,550 USD per person. The itinerary: Bishkek–Chichkan–Jalal-Abad–KazarMan–Naryn–Kochkor–Karakar–Cholpon-Ata–Bishkek. No discounts are offered regardless of group size. The package includes one-night accommodation in a hotel in Bishkek, lodging and meals in guesthouses at each stop on the route, ground transportation, an English-speaking guide, a demonstration of falconry, and museum tickets.
The cost of airline tickets is estimated based on an economy class flight from Frankfurt to Bishkek via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines at a price of 1,364 euros or 1,530 USD. This route is typical for most tourists arriving from European countries. The visa cost does not apply to tourists from OECD countries. For other countries, a fee of 70 USD is established.
Remaining expenses, except for cash expenses, are included in the tourist package sold by the tour operator. Thus, a precise breakdown of various activities is not available. However, their relative weight can be derived using prevailing market rates for each service. The percentages shown in the figure are approximate shares of each service in the total cost of the tour.
For example, accommodation and meals in guesthouses or rural homes are estimated at 20 USD per night, while a hotel in Bishkek is estimated at 60 USD per night, which constitutes 11% and 9% respectively of the total cost of the first package. It is evident that actual costs may vary depending on the locality and quality of accommodation. Similarly, airport transfers and ground transportation are estimated at 2% and 9% of the cost of the first package. The remaining part of the package, about 71%, is allocated to tour operators and covers the salaries of guides, activity expenses, and commissions.
Overall, tourist packages may offer various additional activities, such as mountain climbing, hiking, horseback riding, cycling, wildlife observation, and demonstrations of local culture, such as tasting national dishes, eagle hunting, national games, and music. These are generally personal additional expenses for tourists. Out-of-pocket expenses are conservatively estimated at 100 USD per person (or about 15 USD per day), according to a SIAR survey.
The latest survey revealed significant problems faced by foreign tourists. Among the most frequently occurring issues were low service quality, including accommodation, toilets, food, and the qualifications of guides. As expected, provincial towns and villages lack showers, toilets, and other amenities. This is a systemic infrastructure problem that requires significant investment and economic growth in the country as a whole. However, improving the quality of food and guide services does not require such investments and can be addressed by tour operators and relevant government agencies. In particular, it is necessary to reform the existing system of higher education and vocational training for tourism industry specialists to meet the real needs of the tourism sector.
The figure shows the distribution of total expenses for tourists on cultural and soft adventure tourism. The cost of airline tickets constitutes a significant share (51%) of total expenses for tourists from distant countries. This is money that does not directly benefit Kyrgyzstan. The second largest component (31%) is costs (e.g., for guides) and commissions of tour operators supplying the main tourist product. Most operators, including guides and drivers, are based in Bishkek. Therefore, local communities and businesses account for about 6–8% of the total cost. In community-based ecotourism, they receive a more significant share of the value.
