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The public sector and the expert community intend to work together to make tourism “green”

By 20.05.2022May 22nd, 2022News

On May 18, the Ministry of Culture and Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic (MKYYMP) hosted a round table on the topic “Implementation of green measures in the tourism industry of Kyrgyzstan” with the participation of representatives of the tourism department, the International Business Council, the Green Alliance of Kyrgyzstan, GIZ, the Tourism Industry Association, green technology providers, etc.

Green Alliance expert Maksat Damir uulu presented 5 priority “green” measures for the tourism industry of the Kyrgyz Republic.

  1. Conducting training seminars on financial literacy and financial accounting to increase understanding of the possibility of reducing costs by introducing green economy practices
  2. Reduced property tax rates for hotels that meet environmental standards
  3. Revision of customs duties and cancellation of VAT on imported and manufactured equipment, technologies, and components on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic that meets the standards and requirements of energy and resource efficiency.
  4. Introduction of voluntary standards for collective accommodation facilities, taking into account environmental requirements, and development of implementation mechanisms.
  5. Development of incentive mechanisms for the purchase of local organic agricultural products by HoReCa enterprises.

“Now most tour entities do not keep financial records. But now, in addition to increasing their income, businesses should also take care of the environment. Strive to reduce costs while saving resources – electricity, gas, water, coal. According to the adopted National Development Program of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2026, the tourism sector should develop on the principles of sustainability with strict environmental protection in the interests of the local community and the subjects of the country’s tourism industry, taking into account the assessment of the natural recreational capacity of tourist recreational areas,” said Maksat Damir uulu.

GIZ modeling expert Aibek Kadyraliev added that over the past quarter-century there has been a change in the requirements of travelers, many of whom have begun to pay attention to how the hotel approaches the issue of ecology.