Kyrgyzstan Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in Kyrgyzstan, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals.
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Kyrgyz Republic - Travel and Tourism
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In 2024, the number of tourists in the Kyrgyz Republic exceeded 3.7 million, a 30 percent increase from 2023. Tourism is playing a more prominent role in the Kyrgyz economy, with the sector valued at approximately 58 billion som or $667 million in 2024 or 3.8 percent of GDP. The Kyrgyz Republic has made significant strides in developing its tourism sector. Accommodation infrastructure is expanding, and the availability of services for tourists continues to grow. Tourist flows remain concentrated in Lake Issyk-Kul. 

The Kyrgyz Republic’s tourism market remains heavily reliant on visitors from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, a trend driven by geographical proximity and simplified border-crossing regimes with neighboring countries. However, 2024 saw a modest increase in the share of tourists from more distant countries. Tourists from Russia comprised 5-6 percent of arrivals, while visitors from China accounted for 1-1.5 percent. The remaining countries contributed approximately 4 percent of inbound tourism. 

To further strengthen the sector, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic approved the Sustainable Tourism Development Program for 2025-2030. This program aims to increase tourism’s contribution to GDP to 7 percent by 2030. Key measures include substantial investments in infrastructure, education, and marketing, as well as efforts to create unique experiences that appeal to high-value service markets globally. These initiatives are designed to position Kyrgyzstan as an attractive destination for international travelers while fostering sustainable growth in the tourism industry. The Kyrgyz Republic plans to build the largest ski resort in Central Asia.

While the sector has made significant strides in recent years, it continues to face several challenges. Standards, particularly in customer service, remain weak and inconsistent across the sector, and service capacity is underdeveloped. Tourist infrastructure is slowly improving, but significant capital investment is needed to reverse two decades of degradation. Promotion in the sector, particularly to external markets, is also improving, but lacks a unified marketing and information campaign.

Opportunities

The tourism industry in the Kyrgyz Republic offers targeted opportunities for U.S. investment, particularly in the hospitality sector. Bishkek has few Western hotel chains, and the popular resort destination of Lake Issyk-Kul has none. In 2024, the government adopted the law “On Sustainable Development of the Issyk-Kul Ecological-Economic System,” allowing foreign individuals and legal entities to acquire recreational properties at Lake Issyk-Kul. This aims to create a lucrative tourism sector in the region and to develop modern infrastructure. The changes are expected to generate new jobs, attract investments in resort areas, meet demand for quality tourist services, and boost the state’s budget. Local Kyrgyz entrepreneurs are exploring the possibility of opening franchise locations of major U.S. hospitality chains. Opportunities also exist for U.S. tour operators seeking to sell both individual tour packages to the Kyrgyz Republic and regional trips to Central Asian destinations along the historic Silk Road.

Resources

Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Economy and Commerce

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