Tourism in Kyrgyzstan is set to be brought under control.
An Expert Supported the Government's Idea to Create a New Agency
The decision to create a tourism agency in Kyrgyzstan is a good one; it should have been done a long time ago. This opinion was shared by the former head of the Department of Tourism, tourism marketing expert Maksat Chakiev.
- In our country, tourism is adrift, this sector is practically not controlled at all, - he is convinced. - For some time, this was good - it made it easier for businesses to develop. But now we need a government body that will monitor the quality of services provided. The department does not have such powers.
Chakiev noted that a similar model for tourism development was implemented in Turkey.
- Our resorts are often compared to Turkish ones, - he reminded. - There, too, the government did not control this sector for some time, but later a ministry of tourism was established. This yielded positive results. In our country, there are many hotels, boarding houses, and recreation homes, but no one checks the quality of service. That is, if a fire occurs, you can contact the Ministry of Emergency Situations; if something is stolen, you can go to the police. But if you are insulted at a boarding house, or the conditions were worse than stated, there is no one to complain to. These functions should be taken on by the Tourism Agency.
Maksat Zholdoshbekovich believes that the new agency should also oversee national parks and other recreational areas.
- We have cultural sites, like Manas Ordo, for which someone should also be responsible. The Federation of Trade Unions has recreation homes that are in terrible condition. They also need attention. The agency could manage these facilities, allocate part of the profits to the budget, and keep some funds for the development of tourism, - he concluded.
Recall that earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Kubatbek Boronov announced that a Tourism Agency would be created in Kyrgyzstan. The existing department under the Ministry of Culture will be dissolved.
