Comments on: Issyk-Kul: Chasing short-term profit http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/ neweurasia\\\'s Kyrgyzstan blog Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:41:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: Ataman Rakin http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17755 Ataman Rakin Thu, 31 May 2007 11:22:39 +0000 http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17755 For those interested, here is an IWPR wire about a similar issue (blyn I could have pasted it in the other replies but found it afterwards so anwyay... ) Plan to Boost Tourism Seen as Flawed 30-May-07 The Kyrgyz government wants to create a free economic zone on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, the country’s major tourist area, but NBCentralAsia observers warn that the scheme will be vulnerable to abuse and may bring few tangible benefits. English: http://www.iwpr.net/?p=bkz&s=b&o=335971&apc_state=henh Russian: http://www.iwpr.net/?apc_state=henbbkz335971&l=ru&s=b&p=bkz&o=335971 For those interested, here is an IWPR wire about a similar issue (blyn I could have pasted it in the other replies but found it afterwards so anwyay… )

Plan to Boost Tourism Seen as Flawed

30-May-07

The Kyrgyz government wants to create a free economic zone on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, the country’s major tourist area, but NBCentralAsia observers warn that the scheme will be vulnerable to abuse and may bring few tangible benefits.

English:
http://www.iwpr.net/?p=bkz&s=b&o=335971&apc_state=henh

Russian:
http://www.iwpr.net/?apc_state=henbbkz335971&l=ru&s=b&p=bkz&o=335971

]]> By: Ataman Rakin http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17748 Ataman Rakin Thu, 31 May 2007 08:41:06 +0000 http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17748 "I can only tell that I was completely surprised hearing from a friend of mine from Issyk-Kul region that now foreign people are buying land on the shore of the lake. Foreigners are investing huge money there." It would be interesting to know what kind of foreigners. Kazakhs: yes they are very active there. Other than that: Chinese; Russians; Turks? “I can only tell that I was completely surprised hearing from a friend of mine from Issyk-Kul region that now foreign people are buying land on the shore of the lake. Foreigners are investing huge money there.”

It would be interesting to know what kind of foreigners. Kazakhs: yes they are very active there. Other than that: Chinese; Russians; Turks?

]]> By: Ataman Rakin http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17746 Ataman Rakin Thu, 31 May 2007 07:43:54 +0000 http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17746 "I think there are more PC ways to express fear over “Chinese middle class” hordes Ataman." :))))lol Oh myyyyy shame on me! How did I ever *dared* to sin against the Supreme Dogma of liberal PC-ness? There is hope though... http://labnol.blogspot.com/2006/10/etiquette-guidebook-for-chinese.html “I think there are more PC ways to express fear over “Chinese middle class” hordes Ataman.”

:))))lol Oh myyyyy shame on me! How did I ever *dared* to sin against the Supreme Dogma of liberal PC-ness?

There is hope though…
http://labnol.blogspot.com/2006/10/etiquette-guidebook-for-chinese.html

]]> By: Asel http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17744 Asel Thu, 31 May 2007 06:02:34 +0000 http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17744 UA, exactly, it is closed lake, and that's why it can't continuosly recover by itself. And, that's the thing, because comparatively it's cheaper than any other place, there is a massive flow of tourists. But, on the other hand, if only very rich people can afford it, which I assume would be mostly foreigners or our highly ranked officials, businessmen and so on, where will local ordinary people go and rest in summer, since they cannot afford it? UA, exactly, it is closed lake, and that’s why it can’t continuosly recover by itself. And, that’s the thing, because comparatively it’s cheaper than any other place, there is a massive flow of tourists. But, on the other hand, if only very rich people can afford it, which I assume would be mostly foreigners or our highly ranked officials, businessmen and so on, where will local ordinary people go and rest in summer, since they cannot afford it?

]]> By: UA http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17742 UA Thu, 31 May 2007 05:42:54 +0000 http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17742 I think what saves Ysyk-kul is that the recreation period is quite short, only 2-3 months. Otherwise, it would be a mess long time ago. During summer tourists hurt the lake, and then the lake recovers till the next summer. The point is that it can't last forever, since the it is the closed lake. YK should become an expensive, elite place for rich people, fewer people but with more money. Unfortunately, it can't serve mass tourism. I think what saves Ysyk-kul is that the recreation period is quite short, only 2-3 months. Otherwise, it would be a mess long time ago. During summer tourists hurt the lake, and then the lake recovers till the next summer. The point is that it can’t last forever, since the it is the closed lake.

YK should become an expensive, elite place for rich people, fewer people but with more money. Unfortunately, it can’t serve mass tourism.

]]> By: Asel http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17740 Asel Thu, 31 May 2007 05:41:08 +0000 http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17740 Thanks, Ben. Karakol city can offer limited tourist facilities, but offers much for adventure travelers. Karakol is famous for its Ski base. At 3040 meters, it is the highest ski resort in Central Asia. It takes about half an hour to get there from the city and you can stay at the hotel. I heard they recently purchased a new ski equipment. There is also Karakol Canyon which offers excellent hiking. From this canyon people usually hike to beautiful Ala-Kul lake. And of course most tourists go to Altyn Arashan and Jetioguz hot springs. Certainly you wouldn't find these areas polluted and populated, but they are becoming a "must see" in Karakol Thanks, Ben.
Karakol city can offer limited tourist facilities, but offers much for adventure travelers. Karakol is famous for its Ski base. At 3040 meters, it is the highest ski resort in Central Asia. It takes about half an hour to get there from the city and you can stay at the hotel. I heard they recently purchased a new ski equipment. There is also Karakol Canyon which offers excellent hiking. From this canyon people usually hike to beautiful Ala-Kul lake. And of course most tourists go to Altyn Arashan and Jetioguz hot springs. Certainly you wouldn’t find these areas polluted and populated, but they are becoming a “must see” in Karakol

]]> By: Andrew http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17725 Andrew Thu, 31 May 2007 01:47:38 +0000 http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17725 And so the memory of a hike from the Bolshoi Almatinskoi Lake, through the Chon Ki Min Valley and then over the pass to Issik kul, all the way to the shore where we took off our shirts and boots and soaked in the crystal clear water, surrounded by the peaks and glaciers of the southern, northern and western coasts, might soon be a memory? Will it look like Miami Beach or the Jersey Shore or Kap-Chigai? Will that sense of walking from nature to pasture and then to village be lost? Zhal'.... And so the memory of a hike from the Bolshoi Almatinskoi Lake, through the Chon Ki Min Valley and then over the pass to Issik kul, all the way to the shore where we took off our shirts and boots and soaked in the crystal clear water, surrounded by the peaks and glaciers of the southern, northern and western coasts, might soon be a memory? Will it look like Miami Beach or the Jersey Shore or Kap-Chigai? Will that sense of walking from nature to pasture and then to village be lost? Zhal’….

]]> By: Global Voices Online » Kyrgyzstan: Issyk-Kul and Tourism http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17716 Global Voices Online » Kyrgyzstan: Issyk-Kul and Tourism Wed, 30 May 2007 21:19:17 +0000 http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17716 [...] is worried that the pursuit of short-term profit from tourism is ruining Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-kul. Share [...] […] is worried that the pursuit of short-term profit from tourism is ruining Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-kul. Share […]

]]> By: Ben http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17706 Ben Wed, 30 May 2007 20:20:26 +0000 http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17706 Excellent post Asel, and welcome aboard! I agree with most of the comments you guys make apart from the anti-Chinese sentiments abound here and there... I think there are more PC ways to express fear over "Chinese middle class" hordes Ataman. It will be difficult to control the growth of resort towns and beach-Disneylands. Maybe one needs to designate development areas more conservatively like it has been done on some Mediterranean islands. I for my part was really put off by Balykchy and Cholpon-Ata and would be sad if each square meter of shoreline undergoes the same development. I've never been to Karakol, but how's the tourism situation over there? Excellent post Asel, and welcome aboard!

I agree with most of the comments you guys make apart from the anti-Chinese sentiments abound here and there… I think there are more PC ways to express fear over “Chinese middle class” hordes Ataman.

It will be difficult to control the growth of resort towns and beach-Disneylands. Maybe one needs to designate development areas more conservatively like it has been done on some Mediterranean islands.

I for my part was really put off by Balykchy and Cholpon-Ata and would be sad if each square meter of shoreline undergoes the same development.

I’ve never been to Karakol, but how’s the tourism situation over there?

]]> By: Asel http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17703 Asel Wed, 30 May 2007 18:30:57 +0000 http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net/2007/05/30/issyk-kul-chasing-short-term-profit/#comment-17703 Ataman, thanks for your comment. You are absolutely right about mass tourism flow from neighboring countries. This is very sharp and huge issue which is worth discussing separately. I can only tell that I was completely surprised hearing from a friend of mine from Issyk-Kul region that now foreign people are buying land on the shore of the lake. Foreigners are investing huge money there. This, of course, made prices for property rise dramatically, by three or even five times. So local people simply cannot afford any property. You made a very good point saying that tourism should not be key sector of economy. For example, Japan’s island called Okinawa is one of the most prominent recreation resorts with highly developed infrastructure. Its many hotels and spas are owned by American companies and the island still remains very poor with low standards if living. We surely do not want that happen to Issyk-Kul. Obviously Kyrgyzstan should not and cannot depend on tourism and rely on it as an economic engine, especially now when political instability seems to turn into chronic phenomenon. Alternative to this, like you say, is agriculture. The development and prosperity of agriculture is very crucial because half of the population in Kyrgyzstan depend on agriculture for their livelihood. I just have one question. You seem to be very confident to say that Central Asia will become more unstable in the future. What makes you think so except its geopolitical location which partly explains your statement? Ataman, thanks for your comment. You are absolutely right about mass tourism flow from neighboring countries. This is very sharp and huge issue which is worth discussing separately. I can only tell that I was completely surprised hearing from a friend of mine from Issyk-Kul region that now foreign people are buying land on the shore of the lake. Foreigners are investing huge money there. This, of course, made prices for property rise dramatically, by three or even five times. So local people simply cannot afford any property.

You made a very good point saying that tourism should not be key sector of economy. For example, Japan’s island called Okinawa is one of the most prominent recreation resorts with highly developed infrastructure. Its many hotels and spas are owned by American companies and the island still remains very poor with low standards if living. We surely do not want that happen to Issyk-Kul. Obviously Kyrgyzstan should not and cannot depend on tourism and rely on it as an economic engine, especially now when political instability seems to turn into chronic phenomenon. Alternative to this, like you say, is agriculture. The development and prosperity of agriculture is very crucial because half of the population in Kyrgyzstan depend on agriculture for their livelihood.

I just have one question. You seem to be very confident to say that Central Asia will become more unstable in the future. What makes you think so except its geopolitical location which partly explains your statement?

]]>