Tourism Development - The Times Of Central Asia

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Tourism Development

Tashkent Tourism Infrastructure to Be Upgraded After 3 Million Visitors

Nearly three million foreign tourists have visited Tashkent since the start of the year, prompting authorities to plan a series of practical upgrades aimed at making the Uzbek capital easier to navigate on foot. The measures, discussed at a July 4 government meeting on Tashkent’s development, include free digital tourist maps, more public toilets, and an increase in waste bins across the city. According to official figures cited at the meeting, close to three million foreign visitors have travelled to Tashkent so far this year. Officials said many tourists explore Tashkent on foot. Authorities now plan to install free tourist maps at transportation points across the city, with walking routes also available for download to mobile phones. The plans point to a growing challenge for Tashkent: the city is receiving more visitors, but still lacks some of the basic infrastructure expected in a major tourist destination. Navigation, public sanitation, and waste collection are increasingly part of the tourism offer, particularly for visitors exploring the city independently rather than through organized tours. The shortage of public toilets was identified as a particular problem in areas popular with pedestrians and tourists. Officials have been told to prepare a dedicated program within one month, with land plots to be auctioned this year for the construction of 15 to 20 modern public toilets in each district of the capital. The initiative builds on earlier attempts to modernize public sanitation in Tashkent. In 2023, the city opened Uzbekistan’s first automated public toilet on Lokomotiv Street in the Mirabad district. According to Gazeta.uz, the facility operates around the clock, includes shower facilities, is accessible for people with disabilities, and has a vending kiosk selling hygiene products and diapers in the women’s section. Authorities have also allocated 80-100 square meter plots through electronic auctions to more than 150 private businesses for the installation of additional modern public sanitation facilities. Waste collection is another part of the program. Authorities plan to increase the number of bins on streets, especially around tourist zones, a relatively small intervention but one that can have an immediate effect on how visitors experience the city. The focus on sanitation also reflects broader environmental and public-health challenges. In Yale University’s 2024 Environmental Performance Index, Uzbekistan ranked 107th out of 180 countries, with an overall score of 42.6. The country ranked 67th for unsafe sanitation and 43rd for unsafe drinking water, while its controlled solid waste score was listed at zero, highlighting continued weaknesses in waste management and urban services.

Accommodation Classification System

Kyrgyzstan Launches Accommodation Classification System

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.

Tourism Development

Kyrgyzstan Looks to Turn Former Uranium Mining Town Into Tourist Destination

The Kyrgyz authorities and international partners are seeking to help transform the village of Min-Kush, one of the country’s former uranium mining centers, into a new tourist destination as part of broader efforts to promote sustainable economic development in remote mountain communities. The issue was the focus of the forum “Development of Min-Kush Village Through Sustainable Tourism: Revival of Forgotten Cities,” held in Min-Kush, in the Jumgal district of the Naryn Region, from May 21 to 23. The forum brought together government officials, international organizations, tourism professionals, civil society groups, and local residents to discuss the tourism, environmental, historical, cultural, and gastronomic potential of Min-Kush and the wider Jumgal district. Founded in 1947 as a uranium mining settlement, Min-Kush became one of the Soviet Union’s major uranium production centers. After the collapse of the USSR and the closure of the mines, the village experienced decades of economic decline. Today, Min-Kush is undergoing environmental rehabilitation efforts supported by the Kyrgyz government and international partners aimed at addressing the legacy of uranium mining. Speaking at the forum, Dinara Kemelova, the Kyrgyz president’s special representative for the mountain agenda, said Min-Kush is now safe for both residents and visitors and has significant potential for the development of a green economy, agriculture, and tourism. An important part of the event was a roundtable discussion devoted to strengthening cooperation among communities located near former uranium legacy sites. Participants emphasized the importance of coordinating the efforts of government institutions, international organizations, businesses, and local communities to transform uranium legacy areas into new centers of green economic growth and sustainable tourism in Kyrgyzstan. The forum was organized by the Kyrgyz government together with the NGO Destination Min-Kush, in cooperation with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek and the United Nations Development Programme in Kyrgyzstan, with financial support from the European Union. During the event, UNDP highlighted its grant support mechanism for local initiatives in communities located near uranium legacy sites. Through small grant programs, local civil society organizations, women’s groups, youth initiatives, artisans, and entrepreneurs receive support for practical, community-driven projects aimed at improving livelihoods, increasing environmental awareness, preserving local heritage, and encouraging economic activity. Rémi Duflot, ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Kyrgyzstan, said the forum provided Min-Kush with an opportunity to demonstrate its tourism potential while building on both its natural assets and its unique history as a former uranium mining site. “The EU will continue supporting the efforts undertaken by national and local authorities, in partnership with the EBRD, OSCE, and UNDP, to provide better opportunities for populations living near uranium legacy sites in Kyrgyzstan,” Duflot said.

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.