According to Kasymov, for foreign tourists, Central Asia is perceived as a whole, which opens up new opportunities for the joint utilization of this potential. He reminded that at the “Central Asia – USA” (C5+1) summit held on November 6 in Washington, President Sadyr Japarov emphasized the importance of tourism as a tool for bringing peoples closer together and proposed creating a common tourist space for the region.
Kasymov emphasized that Kyrgyzstan supports the concept of presenting Central Asia as a single tourist destination in the markets of the USA, Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia.
“Tourists in these markets are looking for not just individual countries, but unique experiences. The greatest interest among international tour operators is generated by routes that cover the Silk Road, as well as mountain and cultural tours that connect 3-5 countries,” he noted.
Kasymov also spoke about the need to develop joint tourist products that will include routes connecting adventure and mountain tourism in Kyrgyzstan with historical landmarks in neighboring countries, as well as tours that reveal the nomadic heritage of the region.
Moreover, he noted that Kyrgyzstan views the idea of creating a regional brand, such as “Open Central Asia,” not as a replacement for national brands, but as a way to strengthen the positions of each country. The implementation of this concept, according to Kasymov, involves the participation of Central Asian countries in key international tourism exhibitions and the synchronization of their marketing strategies.
Discussing the level of service in the tourism industry, Kasymov pointed out the importance of the overall perception of the route — a decline in service quality in one area can negatively affect the overall impression of the region.
He also emphasized the need for the unification of service quality standards, the development of human resources and joint educational initiatives, as well as the scaling of community-based tourism (CBT) practices.
“Even the most effective marketing will not help if a tourist encounters logistical problems. For the successful promotion of regional routes, it is extremely important to ensure seamless movement between countries. The Kyrgyz Republic actively supports the simplification and digitalization of visa and border procedures,” Kasymov concluded.
