Analysis of Cooperation in the Tourism Sector between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan: a Study of Cross-border Value Chains

Successful aspects
1. Existence of successful cooperation between Kyrgyz and Uzbek tour operators 
2. Increase of tourists flow in Uzbekistan affects positively on the number of tourists visiting 
Kyrgyzstan
3. Growth of competition among service providers in Kyrgyzstan 
4. Diversification by country origin of tourist inflows
5. Increase of demand on adventure tourism among tourists from distant countries 
6. Increase of interest in Kyrgyzstan as tourism destination after bloggers’ notes 
7. Tour operators in Osh city can provide tours to Antalia for Uzbek citizens directly. Due to 
flight cost difference the tours of the Kyrgyz companies are cheaper 
8. Hot weather in Uzbekistan has a positive impact on attracting more tourists from there 
9. Foreign tourists do not face issues crossing border of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan 
Barriers 
1. High commission fee for bank transfers especially in dollars 
2. Lack of public transport reaching popular tourists destinations 
3. Danger of growth of low-cost tourism in KR
4. Border crossing issues for both Kyrgyz and Uzbek citizens still exist in all operating 
checkpoints in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan
5. Payments in Kyrgyzstan can be done mostly in cash. Electronic payment options are 
available only in Bishkek 
6. Seasonality in tourism has negative impact on service improvement. Service providers do 
not make big investments

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Policy Recommendations
1. Introduce uniform classification of “tourist” for all state authorities in Kyrgyzstan 
2. Develop and introduce uniform classification for all types of services in tourism sector 
3. Cancel registration requirements for tourists in both countries or make the same number 
of days when the registration is required (after 15 days of arrival, for example). 
Meanwhile, while the registration is still in place, all visitors should be informed about 
the registration upon arrival on the border or at the airport. 
4. Recognize Kyrgyz license for provision of guide services on the territory of Uzbekistan 
5. Adjust the list of free-visa entry countries in both countries 
6. Equip border-crossing checkpoints with public toilets
7. Extending the public transport network to reach popular touristic destinations 
8. Introduction of a small tax per visiting tourist (for example, $10 from every tourist 
coming from developed country into Kyrgyzstan, so called “entry tax” for further 
country’s tourism sector development). This could be further used to invest in 
infrastructure in the sector. 
9. Marketing of other destinations (e.g. Sary-Chelek lakes etc.) 
10. Support winter tourism 
11. Separation of tourism sector from social cluster of the Authorized Representative 
Apparatus in regions 
12. Develop and introduce programs and plans on cleansing and preventive measures from 
pollution of touristic places 
13. Creation of plan on measures when rescue efforts are used (e.g. helicopters)
14. Introduce the unified standard of the quality of all tourism services (accommodation, 
tourist companies etc.) and regular monitoring of the work of service providers. 
Licensing tourist companies for easier monitoring of the quality of their work. 
Liberalization of the tourism sector affects negatively on the quality of tourism services. 
Encouragement of higher competition between service providers is needed
15. Attraction of more Uzbek tourists from Namangan, Andijan, Fergana to the South of 
Kyrgyzstan through opening of all border points in Jalal-Abad oblast; lowering the prices 
for accommodation in Jalal-Abad. Overall population of these three Uzbek regions is 
more 11 million people which means a great potential for attracting much bigger number 
of tourists
16. Creation of separate corridors for tourists and traders in checkpoints in the South of 
Kyrgyzstan 
Major Policy Recommendations based on Findings Collected in Uzbekistan
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• Improving border crossing experience by enhancing services and upgrading border 
crossing posts between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan to fit to the actual tourist flow. In