It is planned to introduce licensing for tourism-related activities in Kyrgyzstan. Eduard Kubatov, Director of the State Agency for Tourism Development of the Kyrgyz Republic, stated at a meeting of the Zhogorku Kenesh during a discussion of the draft law on the development of geoparks.
According to Kubatov, a new draft law is being prepared under which tour operators and guides will be required to work under licenses. A permit system for climbing seven-thousand-meter peaks is also expected to be introduced.
«This will be a soft form of regulation. Current practice shows that tour operators from other countries come here and occupy the market niche of domestic operators. In this regard, a working group is now preparing a draft law, which we will submit to deputies for consideration in the autumn,» Eduard Kubatov said.
MP Burul Amanova asked whether licensing could negatively affect tour operators at a time when the country’s tourism sector is still developing.
Kubatov dismissed those concerns, saying that regulation of the sector is necessary.
