With each passing year, the residents of Kyrgyzstan are increasingly recognizing the significance of the tourism industry. The country is witnessing a growth in the number of small and medium-sized enterprises, and many locals are even taking out loans to invest in the tourism business. This may be related to the establishment of guest houses, horse rentals, or the provision of transportation services.
— What problems do foreign tourists face in Kyrgyzstan?
Despite Kyrgyzstan being an attractive country for tourists, the number of people who speak foreign languages remains low. As a result, many foreigners are forced to turn to local tour operators and companies that can act as guides and translators. Interestingly, even in the most remote corners of the country, such as the jailoo, schoolchildren who speak English well can be found in the summer. This allows them to communicate with tourists, and often they greet visitors in English, which surprises guests from neighboring countries. This gives hope that the language barrier will gradually be overcome in the future.
— How do modern technologies help overcome the language barrier in the tourism sector?
Yes, the development of internet technologies and artificial intelligence contributes to the removal of language barriers. As you have noticed, many service industry workers, such as taxi drivers, actively use online translators and special translation devices.
In recent years, there has been a noticeable improvement in the quality of tourist services, especially in remote regions. However, the level of services does not always meet expectations, which is why each tour operator prefers to work only with verified partners. It is worth noting that the growing competition positively affects the quality of service. While there used to be only one yurt camp, now there are several, which drives them to strive for better service quality. It is also important to mention the projects of international organizations that conduct training and workshops to enhance service levels and implement innovations.
Knowledge of foreign languages plays a vital role in the development of tourism in Kyrgyzstan, just as it does in the rest of the world. We are in an era of globalization, where the boundaries between cultures and states are becoming increasingly blurred. If 10 years ago the main tourists in Kyrgyzstan were residents of CIS countries and a limited number of Western countries, now interest in our country is growing on a global level. More and more tourists are coming from Southeast Asia, the UAE, and Europe, and most of them speak English, highlighting the importance of language skills for successful communication and further development of this industry.
