Tourism Development - The Times Of Central Asia

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Cultural Heritage

Bukhara Demolitions Resurface as Developer Faces Financial Trouble

Concerns over demolition works linked to the “Eternal Bukhara” tourism project have resurfaced following renewed questions directed at Uzbekistan’s Cultural Heritage Agency, as the project’s main developer faces financial difficulties. In 2024, The Times of Central Asia reported that construction of the large-scale tourism complex near the historic center of Bukhara had drawn criticism from local residents and UNESCO. The project, located in the buffer zone surrounding the ancient city, was seen as a potential threat to the integrity of one of Central Asia’s most significant cultural sites. According to Uzbek outlet Uzdiplomat, the issue was raised again during a recent briefing, where journalists questioned officials about the consequences of last year’s demolitions. The project’s main investor, Enter Engineering, has since encountered financial problems and is reportedly selling assets to repay debts to banks, the government, and employees. While construction has slowed, concerns remain over the damage already caused to the cultural environment. The demolitions carried out in 2024 sparked strong reactions from the public, architects, and international organizations. Several buildings, including administrative and social facilities in central Bukhara, were reportedly demolished as part of preparations for the tourism complex. At the time, international heritage group Alerte Héritage called for a halt to the process, arguing that it could contradict global preservation commitments. Responding to questions, a representative of the Cultural Heritage Agency said the works were conducted outside UNESCO’s core protected area and instead took place in the buffer zone. According to the agency, all required documentation, including a master plan and impact assessments, was submitted, and UNESCO was informed of the process. Officials also addressed criticism over the demolition of buildings that, while not officially listed as cultural heritage, were considered by some to have historical value. Deputy head of the agency Tursunali Kuziyev said the agency can only intervene in cases involving officially registered heritage sites. He added that granting such status requires a formal scientific review and legal procedure. Questions about whether the agency could take a broader stance in defense of the public interest were met with similar responses. Officials reiterated that decisions regarding non-listed buildings fall under the authority of local governments and urban planning bodies.

Tourism

Kyrgyzstan Advances Construction of Ala-Too All-Season Ski Cluster

On February 25, Kyrgyzstan’s Ala-Too Resort OJSC and the Austrian company Doppelmayr, a global leader in cable car construction, signed a contract for the installation of four additional cable-car lines at the Jyrgalan resort. The site represents the first phase of the Ala-Too Resort project, a flagship state investment initiative to develop an all-season mountain ski cluster in the Issyk-Kul region, east of Lake Issyk-Kul. Construction of the Ala-Too Resort cluster, which will combine three resorts, Jyrgalan, Ak-Bulak, and Boz-Uchuk, began in August 2025. The new agreement follows a contract signed last year under which Doppelmayr is currently building two cable-car lines at Jyrgalan. Their commissioning is scheduled for May 2026. The four additional cable-car lines are expected to be completed by the end of this year, with the official opening of Jyrgalan planned for December. Once operational, the total length of cable-car lines at the resort will exceed 8 kilometers, while ski trails will extend to 46 kilometers. Doppelmayr has also completed a 1-kilometer cable-car line in the Ala-Archa State Nature Park, located about 30 kilometers from the capital, Bishkek. Officially opened on February 18, it became Kyrgyzstan’s first gondola lift. According to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the Ala-Too Resort project will be implemented in stages through 2038, with total investments estimated at approximately €1.2 billion. The cluster aims to attract up to 4 million tourists annually. The total area of the mountain cluster will cover 3,916 hectares, with ski slopes extending to 260 kilometers. Project developers state that this would place Ala-Too Resort among the world’s top ten resorts by total trail length and make it the largest ski destination in Central Asia. The development plan includes the construction of private villas and three- to five-star hotels, as well as a panoramic restaurant, conference facilities, a medical center, a stadium, an amphitheatre, and recreational parks. Infrastructure works are currently underway, including the construction of power transmission lines, drinking water systems, and wastewater treatment facilities. Reconstruction of the road linking Jyrgalan with Karakol, the administrative center of the Issyk-Kul region, has also begun. The Ala-Too Resort project is expected to provide a significant boost to Kyrgyzstan’s tourism sector, positioning the country as a major destination for mountain skiing in Central Asia.

Tourism Development

Tourism Master Plan for Almaty-Bishkek Economic Corridor Updated with Green Focus

On February 12, Bishkek hosted a presentation of the green update to the tourism master plan for the Almaty-Bishkek Economic Corridor (ABEC) between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, a document prepared with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The event brought together representatives of Kyrgyz government agencies, officials from the Issyk-Kul and Chui regions bordering Kazakhstan, as well as members of tourism associations and international development partners. The ABEC tourism master plan was initially approved in 2019. According to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the updated version emphasizes three key areas. The first is green tourism, including the development of eco-tourism routes, sustainable accommodation facilities, hiking and cycling trails, and measures to reduce pressure on mountain ecosystems, lakes, and national parks. The second priority is sustainable development. This includes improving resource efficiency, introducing renewable energy sources, promoting green logistics, and reducing the carbon footprint of tourism-related activities. The third focus area is regional integration and connectivity. Planned measures include digitalizing border-crossing procedures, developing sustainable transport solutions, strengthening cross-border coordination, and creating more convenient tourist routes along the corridor. The updated master plan aims to attract investment and mobilize financial resources from the ADB, national governments, the private sector, and development partners to implement priority projects along the ABEC corridor. A central infrastructure component of the ABEC initiative is the proposed construction of an alternative highway linking Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, with Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan’s leading tourist destination. Lake Issyk-Kul remains a major attraction for visitors from across the region and is particularly popular among Almaty residents seeking weekend or summer trips. Although the two locations are separated by only about 80 kilometers in a straight line, mountain ranges make direct travel difficult. The existing route passes through Bishkek, extending the journey to more than 460 kilometers and turning what could be a short trip into an approximately eight-hour drive to Cholpon-Ata, the largest resort town on the lake’s northern shore. The Times of Central Asia previously reported on long-standing plans to establish a more direct road between Almaty and Issyk-Kul. In 2007, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan signed a memorandum of understanding for a route bypassing Bishkek, running through Uzynagash and Kemin and connecting directly to Cholpon-Ata. The project, however, stalled at an early stage. If completed, it would reduce the travel distance to approximately 260 kilometers and significantly shorten travel time. The project is currently at the stage of preparing a feasibility study.

Tourism

The Potential and Problems of Tourism in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan boasts unique natural landscapes that could attract international visitors, and significantly enrich the country's economy. Each year, the government allocates increasing funds to support tourism. However, services and infrastructure in many tourist destinations still remain well below international standards. Undeniable Improvements According to Talgat Gazizov, Chairman of the Board of the national company Kazakh Tourism, more than 1,100 tours to Kazakhstan are currently available on 18 major online platforms across Europe and Asia – a threefold increase compared to 2023. This reflects growing interest among international tour operators. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, authorities are also weighing up the possibility of opening casinos in designated tourist zones, accessible exclusively to foreign citizens. In 2025, Kazakhstan invested nearly $2.5 billion in the development of its tourism sector, a 32% year-on-year increase. The number of tourists staying in accommodation facilities rose by 12%, surpassing 10 million. Kazakhstan also improved its position in the World Economic Forum’s global tourism index, climbing from 66th to 52nd place. The stated goal is to break into the top 50. Currently, 328 tourism investment projects are underway. Notable among them are the Oi-Karagai mountain resort, Hilton and Mandarin Oriental hotel complexes, the Zhibek Zholy entertainment complex, and the Keruen Inn roadside service chain. These projects are expected to create around 10,000 permanent jobs. A Comprehensive Development Plan for the Almaty Mountain Cluster includes expanding ski resorts and integrating them into a unified system. The celebrated Shymbulak ski base and Medeu high-altitude skating rink, both located near Almaty, are among the country’s most distinctive attractions. The plan envisions 30 new cable cars and 161 kilometers of ski slopes, aiming to boost annual tourist numbers from 1.8 million to 5 million. Authorities note that, globally, ski tourists spend seven times more than beach tourists. The Shchuchinsk-Borovskaya (Burabai) resort area is also a development priority. Infrastructure expansion around Lakes Katarkol, Maloye and Bolshoye Chebachye, and Zhukei is intended to ease pressure on Lakes Shchuchye and Borovoye. The number of inbound tourists to Burabai is projected to reach 94,000 by the end of 2029, with 32,500 people employed in the local tourism industry. In western Kazakhstan, development is planned along the Mangistau Peninsula, including Teply beach and Kendirli resorts on the Caspian Sea. Efforts are also underway to improve access to the striking rock formations of Bozhyr and Tamsha, which rival world-famous geological landmarks. Services and Infrastructure Lag Behind Despite progress, serious shortcomings persist, chief among them underdeveloped services. The lack of public toilets in tourist zones and along highways has been repeatedly highlighted. Government data shows that many resort areas in the Akmola, Karaganda, and Pavlodar regions, as well as in the Abai and Zhetysu regions, lack reliable water supply and central sewage systems. The use of well water remains a pressing concern. In the Abai region, some recreation centers are situated dangerously close to water sources. Lake Alakol, a popular summer destination, requires urgent shoreline reinforcement. Similar dredging work is also necessary in Caspian...

Tourism Development

Switzerland Backs Winter Tourism Development in Kyrgyzstan

Switzerland is providing practical support to Kyrgyzstan in developing its winter tourism sector, with a strong focus on training professional staff. A program for ski instructor training is currently underway in the city of Karakol, Issyk-Kul region, with Swiss backing. Switzerland's ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Sirocco Meserli, recently visited a cross-country skiing training session, a sport that has seen systematic development in Kyrgyzstan since 2022. According to Swiss diplomats, specialists from Switzerland have arrived to train Kyrgyz instructors and sports school coaches in modern international methods tailored for children, adults, and tourists. The initiative is part of the Sustainable Winter Tourism project, funded by the Swiss government. The final stage of this year’s training sessions with Swiss experts is currently taking place. [caption id="attachment_42787" align="aligncenter" width="300"] @TCA[/caption] Meserli stated that the program covers skiing techniques, instructional methods, tourist engagement, and safety protocols. “Infrastructure development is important, but qualified personnel who can provide a high level of service and a positive tourist experience play a decisive role,” he said. The project introduces international training standards for instructors at the Admission, Aspirant, and Instructor levels, commonly used in alpine skiing and snowboarding training globally. The Swiss side has emphasized the project’s long-term goals: not only to train instructors but also to lay the foundation for winter sports as a sustainable economic sector, fostering growth in tourist traffic, job creation, and service offerings during the winter season. [caption id="attachment_42788" align="aligncenter" width="300"] @TCA[/caption] Kyrgyz experts see high potential in this area. Approximately 94% of Kyrgyzstan’s territory is mountainous, and new ski resorts are actively being developed across the country. “Skiing is becoming popular. Young people are eager to learn. All instructors speak Kyrgyz, Russian, and English, and demand for training has grown significantly,” ski instructor Daniyar Toichbek told The Times of Central Asia. Karakol remains Kyrgyzstan’s primary ski destination. During the winter season, numerous rental shops operate in the city, where a full set of ski equipment can be rented for about $35, making winter recreation accessible to both locals and international visitors.

Tourism Development

Kyrgyzstan to Launch Unified Digital Tourism Platform to Attract Foreign Visitors

Kyrgyzstan is preparing to launch a unified Digital Tourism Platform designed to simplify travel procedures and strengthen the country’s appeal to foreign tourists. At a government meeting on January 26, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev pointed to long-standing structural challenges in the tourism sector, including fragmented services for visas, logistics, and insurance, as well as the absence of a centralized coordination mechanism. “Tourists should not face bureaucracy and language barriers at every stage. A single-window platform must integrate government services, private-sector offerings, and payment instruments from entry to exit,” Kasymaliev stated. He directed the Department of Tourism, the Ministry of Digital Development, and the Ministry of Finance, in coordination with the Tunduk State Portal of Electronic Services, to secure funding and oversee the platform’s technical implementation. Tourism’s economic contribution is steadily increasing. In 2025, the sector accounted for 4.3% of Kyrgyzstan’s GDP, with nearly 10 million tourist arrivals, according to Adilet Januzakov, Director of the Tourism Support and Development Fund, speaking on Sputnik Radio. Januzakov noted a shift in government policy from maximizing tourist numbers to improving infrastructure and service standards. The aim is to create comfortable conditions for a wide range of travel experiences, from ecotourism and camping to premium hospitality. Key initiatives include the construction of an Olympic village on Lake Issyk-Kul, the development of ski resorts and amusement parks, and the continued digitalization of tourist routes, such as integrating eco-trails into the 2GIS navigation system. Authorities also plan to implement a national classification system for hotels and guesthouses, designed to increase market transparency and provide consistent service quality for visitors. According to the National Statistical Committee, revenue from foreign tourists exceeded $813 million between January and September 2025, making tourism one of Kyrgyzstan’s key non-resource sectors.