Kyrgyzstan is not yet ready to accommodate 30 million tourists — Eduard Kubatov
The number of tourists visiting Kyrgyzstan could reach 30 million over the next two to three years. Eduard Kubatov, head of the State Tourism Agency, told 24.kg news agency.
According to him, more than 13 million tourists are expected to visit the country in 2026, while annual tourist arrivals are growing by more than 30 percent.
«The SCO summit and the large-scale events of the World Nomad Games generated a global media and marketing impact. This momentum will continue to yield results in the near future,» Eduard Kubatov commented.
At the same time, the head of the state agency acknowledged that Kyrgyzstan is not yet prepared to accommodate 30 million tourists.
«But we need to start preparing for a tourism boom now. We need to develop infrastructure, increase the number of accommodation facilities, and pay particular attention to tourist services and the quality of service,» he said.
A large-scale training program is also planned for residents of the regions and local communities seeking to accommodate tourists in their homes and communities.
According to Eduard Kubatov’s estimates, 13 million tourists could generate around $1.5 billion in revenue, while increasing tourist arrivals to 30 million could bring in $3.5–4 billion.
Earlier, the head of the State Tourism Agency said that the opening of the World Nomad Games, the SCO summit, state and official visits by the leaders of China and Pakistan, as well as the Games themselves, had attracted global attention to Kyrgyzstan. According to his data, coverage of Kyrgyzstan in international media and social networks reached more than 7 billion people.
Kubatov then urged residents of the regions to prepare for an increase in tourist arrivals by setting up additional rooms and yurts to accommodate guests. He said this would allow rural residents to earn income from tourism without having to move to cities.
