Work has begun in Kyrgyzstan on a new edition of the Law "On Tourism." This was announced by Erdenet Kasymov, the director of the Tourism Department, on the air of Birinchi Radio.
Kasymov noted that the current law came into force in 1999 and has only been slightly modified since then. As a result, the document has become "morally outdated" and does not meet the modern requirements of the tourism industry.
He also added that tourism is one of the priority areas in the National Development Program of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2030. In this regard, a sustainable tourism development program has been developed, covering nine key areas, including improving infrastructure, enhancing service quality, digitizing the industry, implementing green technologies, and expanding opportunities for regions.
"In creating the new law, we will take into account both national interests and international experience, as well as the opinions of local and foreign specialists. We plan to start collaborative work on the document at the beginning of next year," emphasized Kasymov.
Additionally, he mentioned the possibility of reinstating licensing for tourism activities and introducing certification for local guides. Licensing was abolished in 2003, and currently, registration with the justice authorities is sufficient to operate in this field. However, according to Kasymov, the introduction of new requirements is necessary to ensure the safety of tourists and enhance the competitiveness of Kyrgyz guides on the international stage.
