Will tourists continue to visit Kyrgyzstan?
The Government of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan has proposed to introduce a new tax for tourists. This decision is justified by the significant number of visitors and the need to finance the development of tourist infrastructure.
Sergey Glukhoverov, an expert in tourism and a representative of the tour operators association KATO, expressed his concern, noting that a letter was sent to the government requesting the cancellation of this proposal. “Of the announced 9 million tourists, most come to visit their relatives or are former citizens of Kyrgyzstan. For them, the introduction of this fee will not be the most hospitable step,” he commented in a conversation with Vesti.kg.
Glukhoverov also pointed out that the mechanisms for collecting this fee remain unclear. “If the tax is collected through hotels, it will not cover all tourists, as many prefer to stay with relatives or in tents. Will the fee be selective? If it is collected at the border, it will lead to additional congestion and queues. And if payment is introduced on-site, there will be issues with currency exchange and access to ATMs, which will create inconveniences for visitors,” he added.
Moreover, Glukhoverov emphasized that hotels, restaurants, and tourism companies already pay taxes from their activities to the state budget.
“And if these fees are added to the taxes on tourists, it could negatively affect the impression of the country and the image of Kyrgyzstan,” the expert concluded.
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