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Tourism in Kyrgyzstan

January 01, 1970

Although Kyrgyzstan’s mountains and lakes are an attractive tourist destination, the tourism industry has grown very slowly because it has received little investment.[1] In the early 2000s, an average of about 450,000 tourists visited annually, mainly from countries of the former Soviet Union.[1] In 2018, the British Backpacker Society ranked Kyrgyzstan as the fifth best adventure travel destination on earth, stating that the country was an adventure travel secret that is "bound to get out soon."[2]

Yurts and a tourist resort in Altyn Arashan.

Lake Issyk-Kul and the Tian Shan mountains are relatively popular tourist destinations .

Cultural attractions edit

Kyrgyz culture is based on nomadic traditions that harken back to the days of the Mongol hordes. Although modern Kyrgyz people live mainly in houses or apartment buildings, in the summer time it is still possible to observe the native people living in a yurt with their herds of sheep, goats, horses, and occasionally even yaks. There are a number of yurt camps that cater to tourists in every oblast; some of the most notable (and remote) are in Tash Rabat, the "House of Stones" in Naryn oblast past Naryn City, and in Jeti-Ögüz ("Seven Bulls") Valley in Jeti-Oguz District near the city of Karakol on Lake Issyk-Kul.

Kyrgyz women produce a variety of handicrafts created out of felt, including slippers, bags, decorative panels, traditional hats known as "Kalpaks" and colorful carpets called "shyrdaks." These carpets are made in a variety of sizes, from foot-by-foot sized to several yards in length. Shyrdaks come in a wide variety of traditional patterns; the Kyrgyz favor brightly colored ones, often combining bright red and green. More subtly-hued shyrdaks, made for foreign customers, can be found in Bishkek, often for a slightly higher price than the more "traditional" carpets. Naryn oblast is widely considered the home of the best shyrdak makers in the country; there are several cooperatives there where it is possible to commission a work specially.

Eco-tourism edit

Currently there are several efforts to promote "eco-friendly" tourism in Kyrgyzstan. Helvetas, a Swiss cultural development organization, sponsored several projects of this sort, including "Shepard's Life," and "Community Based Tourism." The many tourist companies in Kyrgyzstan understand that "eco-" anything sounds very appealing to the many backpackers that come to their country, so they tend to use it to describe their organization, even if they do nothing to promote "low-impact" or "leave no trace" camping. However, the very nature of the type of tourists that are attracted to Kyrgyzstan dictates that most of the tourist attractions offered are aimed at enjoying the beauty that the local environment has to offer. In year 2010 Kyrgyzstan joined The Region Initiative (TRI) which is a Tri-regional Umbrella of Tourism related organisations. TRI is functioning as a link between three regions----South Asia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe which is also joined by Armenia, Bangladesh, India, Georgia, Kazakhstan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Tajikistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

Tourist sites edit

 
Skazka Canyon, Kyrgyzstan

The popular science magazine National Geographic named eight wild places in Kyrgyzstan that are recommended for tourists to visit. “In the cities of Kyrgyzstan there are many Soviet-style buildings, spacious markets and colorful mosques. However, outside of Bishkek and Osh you will see a miracle - high-mountain lakes, snow-capped peaks and walnut forests,” the publication writes.[3] National Geographic has included several locations in its selection.

  • Ala Archa National Park - It is located 40 kilometers from Bishkek. One of the most famous natural areas in the country. From the Kyrgyz language, "ala-archa" is translated as "motley juniper" - this plant is used by the local population to protect housing from evil spirits.
  • Köl-Suu - In the highlands near the border with China there is a lake. To get there, you need four hours by car from Naryn, and then get on foot or on horseback.[citation needed]
  • Lenin Peak - Located on the border with Tajikistan. This seven-thousander is one of the most famous peaks in Kyrgyzstan. Experienced climbers try to conquer it every year.
  • Arslanbob - One of the largest walnut forests in the world. First interested settlers in the III century BC, and today attracts tourists from different countries.[citation needed]
  • Ala-Kul - Located in the snowy mountain range of Teskey Ala-Too at an altitude of 3532 meters. You can get there only on foot - it will take more than one day.[citation needed]
  • Tash Rabat - At one time, this historic building served as the main parking lot for merchants and caravans following the Great Silk Road. A caravanserai was built in a valley between the mountains of At-Bashi. Today, tourists can get here for a small fee. Nearby there are hiking trails leading to the lake and Chatyr-Kul Nature Reserve.
  • Skazka Canyon - Also known as Fairytale Canyon, this area is on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. The canyon was formed as a result of thousands of years of ice, water and wind erosion.
  • Bokonbaevo - A small village on the coast of Issyk-Kul attracts tourists with preserved traditions. Here they will be shown hunting games with hunting birds or offered to ride a horse.

Visitor statistics edit

Most visitors arriving to Kyrgyzstan were from the following countries of nationality:[4][5]

Country 2017 2016 2015 2014
  Kazakhstan 1,833,900 1,787,100 1,989,200 1,998,500
  Russia 471,400 431,000 528,700 447,700
  Tajikistan 250,900 169,500 117,600 79,300
  Uzbekistan 479,600 150,700 60,900 125,900
  Ukraine 9,200 141,300 133,600 5,800
  Turkey 54,300 36,800 36,100 33,000
  China 39,500 36,600 35,800 29,900
  United States 14,200 13,900 19,200 14,300
  India 19,600 11,400 7,600 4,200
  Germany 13,100 11,100 16,700 15,200
  South Korea 13,100 10,300 7,000 10,500
  Turkmenistan 800 8,500 5,900 8,600
  Azerbaijan 8,500 8,100 5,300 3,700
  United Kingdom 6,900 6,600 6,900 4,400
  Georgia 5,700 5,700 2,500 1,800
Total 3,219,700 2,930,200 3,050,600 2,849,400

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Kyrgyzstan country profile. Library of Congress Federal Research Division (January 2007). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ Planet, Lonely. "Pakistan rated top destination by the British Backpacker Society". www.lonelyplanet.com. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  3. ^
  4. ^ Туризм в Кыргызстане
  5. ^ http://www.stat.kg/media/publicationarchive/3a116eea-4813-431a-91e0-ba9c65e13231.pdf [bare URL PDF]

External links edit

 
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kyrgyzstan.
  • Tourism in Kyrgyzstan at Curlie
  • Kyrgyzstan on Globetrooper
  • The Region Initiative (TRI)
  • Mountain Tourism and Sustainability in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan: A Research Review

January 01, 1970
tourism, kyrgyzstan, although, kyrgyzstan, mountains, lakes, attractive, tourist, destination, tourism, industry, grown, very, slowly, because, received, little, investment, early, 2000s, average, about, tourists, visited, annually, mainly, from, countries, fo. Although Kyrgyzstan s mountains and lakes are an attractive tourist destination the tourism industry has grown very slowly because it has received little investment 1 In the early 2000s an average of about 450 000 tourists visited annually mainly from countries of the former Soviet Union 1 In 2018 the British Backpacker Society ranked Kyrgyzstan as the fifth best adventure travel destination on earth stating that the country was an adventure travel secret that is bound to get out soon 2 Yurts and a tourist resort in Altyn Arashan Lake Issyk Kul and the Tian Shan mountains are relatively popular tourist destinations Contents 1 Cultural attractions 2 Eco tourism 3 Tourist sites 4 Visitor statistics 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksCultural attractions editKyrgyz culture is based on nomadic traditions that harken back to the days of the Mongol hordes Although modern Kyrgyz people live mainly in houses or apartment buildings in the summer time it is still possible to observe the native people living in a yurt with their herds of sheep goats horses and occasionally even yaks There are a number of yurt camps that cater to tourists in every oblast some of the most notable and remote are in Tash Rabat the House of Stones in Naryn oblast past Naryn City and in Jeti Oguz Seven Bulls Valley in Jeti Oguz District near the city of Karakol on Lake Issyk Kul Kyrgyz women produce a variety of handicrafts created out of felt including slippers bags decorative panels traditional hats known as Kalpaks and colorful carpets called shyrdaks These carpets are made in a variety of sizes from foot by foot sized to several yards in length Shyrdaks come in a wide variety of traditional patterns the Kyrgyz favor brightly colored ones often combining bright red and green More subtly hued shyrdaks made for foreign customers can be found in Bishkek often for a slightly higher price than the more traditional carpets Naryn oblast is widely considered the home of the best shyrdak makers in the country there are several cooperatives there where it is possible to commission a work specially Eco tourism editCurrently there are several efforts to promote eco friendly tourism in Kyrgyzstan Helvetas a Swiss cultural development organization sponsored several projects of this sort including Shepard s Life and Community Based Tourism The many tourist companies in Kyrgyzstan understand that eco anything sounds very appealing to the many backpackers that come to their country so they tend to use it to describe their organization even if they do nothing to promote low impact or leave no trace camping However the very nature of the type of tourists that are attracted to Kyrgyzstan dictates that most of the tourist attractions offered are aimed at enjoying the beauty that the local environment has to offer In year 2010 Kyrgyzstan joined The Region Initiative TRI which is a Tri regional Umbrella of Tourism related organisations TRI is functioning as a link between three regions South Asia Central Asia and Eastern Europe which is also joined by Armenia Bangladesh India Georgia Kazakhstan India Pakistan Nepal Tajikistan Russia Sri Lanka Turkey Ukraine and Uzbekistan Tourist sites edit nbsp Skazka Canyon Kyrgyzstan The popular science magazine National Geographic named eight wild places in Kyrgyzstan that are recommended for tourists to visit In the cities of Kyrgyzstan there are many Soviet style buildings spacious markets and colorful mosques However outside of Bishkek and Osh you will see a miracle high mountain lakes snow capped peaks and walnut forests the publication writes 3 National Geographic has included several locations in its selection Ala Archa National Park It is located 40 kilometers from Bishkek One of the most famous natural areas in the country From the Kyrgyz language ala archa is translated as motley juniper this plant is used by the local population to protect housing from evil spirits Kol Suu In the highlands near the border with China there is a lake To get there you need four hours by car from Naryn and then get on foot or on horseback citation needed Lenin Peak Located on the border with Tajikistan This seven thousander is one of the most famous peaks in Kyrgyzstan Experienced climbers try to conquer it every year Arslanbob One of the largest walnut forests in the world First interested settlers in the III century BC and today attracts tourists from different countries citation needed Ala Kul Located in the snowy mountain range of Teskey Ala Too at an altitude of 3532 meters You can get there only on foot it will take more than one day citation needed Tash Rabat At one time this historic building served as the main parking lot for merchants and caravans following the Great Silk Road A caravanserai was built in a valley between the mountains of At Bashi Today tourists can get here for a small fee Nearby there are hiking trails leading to the lake and Chatyr Kul Nature Reserve Skazka Canyon Also known as Fairytale Canyon this area is on the southern shore of Lake Issyk Kul The canyon was formed as a result of thousands of years of ice water and wind erosion Bokonbaevo A small village on the coast of Issyk Kul attracts tourists with preserved traditions Here they will be shown hunting games with hunting birds or offered to ride a horse Visitor statistics editMost visitors arriving to Kyrgyzstan were from the following countries of nationality 4 5 Country 2017 2016 2015 2014 nbsp Kazakhstan 1 833 900 1 787 100 1 989 200 1 998 500 nbsp Russia 471 400 431 000 528 700 447 700 nbsp Tajikistan 250 900 169 500 117 600 79 300 nbsp Uzbekistan 479 600 150 700 60 900 125 900 nbsp Ukraine 9 200 141 300 133 600 5 800 nbsp Turkey 54 300 36 800 36 100 33 000 nbsp China 39 500 36 600 35 800 29 900 nbsp United States 14 200 13 900 19 200 14 300 nbsp India 19 600 11 400 7 600 4 200 nbsp Germany 13 100 11 100 16 700 15 200 nbsp South Korea 13 100 10 300 7 000 10 500 nbsp Turkmenistan 800 8 500 5 900 8 600 nbsp Azerbaijan 8 500 8 100 5 300 3 700 nbsp United Kingdom 6 900 6 600 6 900 4 400 nbsp Georgia 5 700 5 700 2 500 1 800 Total 3 219 700 2 930 200 3 050 600 2 849 400See also editVisa policy of Kyrgyzstan Cuisine of KyrgyzstanReferences edit a b Kyrgyzstan country profile Library of Congress Federal Research Division January 2007 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Planet Lonely Pakistan rated top destination by the British Backpacker Society www lonelyplanet com Retrieved 2018 05 24 8 wild and beautiful places in Kyrgyzstan Turizm v Kyrgyzstane http www stat kg media publicationarchive 3a116eea 4813 431a 91e0 ba9c65e13231 pdf bare URL PDF External links edit nbsp Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kyrgyzstan Tourism in Kyrgyzstan at Curlie Kyrgyzstan on Globetrooper The Region Initiative TRI Mountain Tourism and Sustainability in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan A Research Review Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tourism in Kyrgyzstan amp oldid 1185984501, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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