Visa-free travel - life-line for Kyrgyz tourist season

Only few days left for summer season. This time, hopes for cheaper tourist season still have most part of Kyrgyzstanis. As 2005 revolution brought tour companies less tourists as well as less income. The same may happen this year. Foreign media outlets bring oil to the fire frightening potential tourists with scary stories about Kyrgyzstan. However, the tour operators do not stay idle and ready for work. A Coordination Center, established for solving of the most difficult issues by joint efforts of business and state bodies. The Center has already prepared specific claims for activization of business and as a whole tourist sector in particular. Methods and ways for implementation of the task to restore the season in Kyrgyzstan were described by the chairman of the Tourist council under the business league of Kyrgyzstan Michael Khalitov.

- The measures to restore business activity include revision of taxation system for Issyk-Kul region, what does it mean?

- This issue was set to escape interference of tax department into work of sanatoria institutions and hotels. But it does not mean businessmen would not pay taxes. All entrepreneurs understand the situation Kyrgyzstan is in and most part of them are socially responsible people. The government expects big deficit of the budget that threats the whole country. That is why all businessmen consciously renounced an idea of tax remissions.

- How does the deal go with holiday hotels? Are they ready for tourist season?

- Resort hotels almost have not suffered from marauding and retain their integrity. There were some attempts to destabilize the situation: some local residents came to hotel’s managers with crazy demands to hire them as well as to fire he old stuff. Such issues have been solved in most cases. Everybody understand if there had given a vent to a conflict, nobody would have worked.

- Are there many of those faced unreasonable demands?

- There you again! There were not any forcible takeovers or nationalization. The only thing was with those hotels – belonging to the ex-President’s son Maxim Bakiyev. But the investigation is ongoing and officers will find the truth. Numbers of affiliated hotels however is not very big and it will not effect the whole season. The rest hotels stand ready for tourists and undertake additional safety measures.

- What do we need to prevent further attempts of property seizure?

- Till the legitimacy authorities in the country. People should know that such attitude would do harm to the whole season. There is also a list of affiliated companies and people should know it. The list includes 400 enterprises and 126 individuals. Entrepreneurs guess whether they are enlisted or not.

- What measures were taken for reasons of safety of tourists?

- Firs of all the government would ensure their safety. It is known that would be created special banners with information for tourists providing a consultative help as well as mobile teams for prompt response. Supposedly such groups will be set alongside of the main roads.

- It was suggested a visa free regime. What is the government’s point?

- Establishing a visa free regime would have became reasonable way to support the tourist season in 2010. We have suggested this regime for many many times but always were left without response. Besides, arguments of the hotel sector are too valid. A stake in the budget from the visa fees is miserable and failed to be taken into consideration at budget planning. This money was simply “eaten” by the Foreign Ministry, embassies and consulates that cause many doubts of their services.

- How much does cost a visa?

- Its cost depends on the country and type of visa: one-time, multiple, urgent or non-urgent and varies $30 to $70. We suggest abolishing fees and restrict only to a control measures when a tourist gets a mark of access and egress. At present many tourists have to wait for three hours for the visa in the airport and unfair bureaucrats make use of that. Visa free regime will contribute to tourism sector. Eventually tourists could spend this money (the cost of visa) during vocation in Kyrgyzstan. Finally the country would get tourists who know the cost of money.

- What do officials say?

- Roza Otunbaeva has stated she supported the idea. Work on establishing of a road map is under way. The deal concerns not only tourism as well, but he whole economy.

- World media outlets created image of Kyrgyzstan that would not let any tourist to come here. Believe not all that you see nor half what you hear.

- Yes, it happens every year but now we have more reasons for it. The government must have provided an information campaign. The press shall have an opportunity and ways to get true information. It should be organized media tours and conferences. Then the press will end use of unchecked information and people will come in Kyrgyzstan.

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