Seven U.S. Peace Corps Response Eco-Tourism Volunteers arrived in Bishkek on January 15th to help promote sustainable tourism in partnership with the local non-profit Kyrgyz Community Based Tourism Association (KCBTA). After completing their training, the volunteers will work with CBT partners to develop nature-based tours, assist in creating effective marketing strategies to attract domestic and international tourists, establish guidelines and best practices to minimize the impact of tourism on local ecosystems, and help local partners improve their English language skills, the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan said.
The Volunteers will undergo two weeks of intensive training, which includes Kyrgyz language classes and cross-cultural competence training before deploying for twelve months to KCBTA offices in Kochkor, Toktogul, Arslanbob, Naryn, Karakol, Osh, and Bishkek as eco-tourism marketing specialists.
“Community Based Tourism Associations throughout the country are glad to welcome response volunteers. We hope that these volunteers will support us in improving our ecotourism offerings to attract a wide range of tourists to Kyrgyzstan,” Asylbek Rajiev, the Executive Director of the Kyrgyz Community Based Tourism Association said.
The response volunteers will complement the 35 English language education volunteers currently serving in Kyrgyzstan.
