On August 26, Kyrgyzstan’s resort city of Cholpon-Ata inaugurated the first monotype yacht fleet on Lake Issyk-Kul, marking a new stage in the development of the region’s tourism infrastructure.
The project was spearheaded by Evgeny Kotov, a Russia-born entrepreneur, international business trainer, and founder of the Practicum business school.
At the opening ceremony, Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Economy and Commerce Bakyt Sydykov highlighted the significance of the initiative, noting that tourism is defined as a strategic sector of the national economy under the National Development Program until 2030.
According to Sydykov, the yacht fleet will help diversify Issyk-Kul’s tourism offerings by developing water sports and recreation, attracting visitors year-round, creating new jobs, and strengthening Kyrgyzstan’s international image and investment appeal.
The new sailing infrastructure also opens opportunities for training athletes and hosting international competitions. Earlier this year, the ministry backed a proposal from the Sailing Federation of the Kyrgyz Republic to exempt sports equipment, including sailing yachts, from customs duties and to simplify procedures for the temporary import of vessels participating in competitions.
