Kyrgyzstan has begun accepting applications from hotels, guesthouses, yurt camps, and resorts for a new accommodation classification system aimed at improving service quality and increasing transparency in the country’s tourism sector.
The State Agency for Tourism Development said the system will set common standards for accommodation providers and make the market more transparent. It is also intended to increase confidence among tourists. Applications can be submitted online, after which businesses must provide access to an expert for assessment.
The classification will include three categories: “stars” for hotels and resorts, “edelweisses” for guesthouses, and “tunduks” for yurt camps. A tunduk is the central wooden crown of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt.
The system is voluntary. For businesses, the new classification offers a way to officially confirm their service level, build trust with guests and partners, use the assigned category in advertising, and be included in the Register of Classified Accommodation Facilities.
After receiving certificates, accommodation providers will be allowed to display their category on signs, websites, and booking platforms.
Tourism is one of Kyrgyzstan’s key economic sectors. Eduard Kubatov, director of the State Agency for Tourism Development, said the country expects to receive about 12 million tourists in 2026.
In 2025, about 10 million tourists visited Kyrgyzstan, while the tourism industry’s contribution to the economy exceeded $1 billion.
According to Kubatov, tourism currently accounts for more than 5% of GDP, with the figure expected to rise to 7.5% in the coming years.
