OREANDA-NEWS. June 04, 2013. IBC in cooperation with Public Association "Public-Orivate PArtnership Support" (PPPS) held a press-cafe to inform journalists from leading mass media outlets about tourism development policy elaborated in previous national economic development strategies and answer their questions.

At the press-cafe the journalists and the experts talked over such issues as necessity to adopt Tourism Development Strategy, absence of official touristic website, problem of personnel training in tourism and services, prognosis for 2013 summer season, and others.
 
“National Strategy on Sustainable Development of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2013-2017 admits tourism as one of the priority branches of economy. Tourism creates workplaces and thus increases people’s welfare. It’s potential in our country is very high. According to the prognosis of UN World Tourism Organization, Kyrgyzstan is capable to host up to 2.5 million tourists a year,” said Aktilek Tungatarov, manager of the USAID Local Development Program’s project.

The experts were:

Bakyt Kenenbaev, Former Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Former Director of Toursims Department

Gozde Eren, General Manager of Hyatt Regency Bishkek

Bekjan Kaiypov, Commercial Director of Jannat Hotels

Rustam Abaskanov, Head of Marketing Department of Jannat Hotels

Vladimir Komissarov, Director of ITMC Tien-Shan Company, President of Silk Way Tourism Association

Ian Claytor, Director of Celectial Mountains Company

Asylbek Rajiev, President of Kyrgyz CBT Association

Melis Chormonov, Principal of Kyrgyz Academy of Tourism

Kutay Oktay, Director of the Higher School of Tourism and Hospitality, Manas University

Gulmira Samatova, Deputy Director of the Higher School of Tourism and Hotel Management, Manas University

Bermet Djurupova, Director of the Institute of Business and Service, Kyrgyz Economic University

The series of press-cafe is planned in the framework of the project titled “Towards designing a roadmap for a 20-year national economic development strategy in Kyrgyzstan” and funded by USAID Local Development Program. IBC and PPPS are responsible for the implementation of the project.

Press-cafe is a good platform for communication between business and mass media. In informal setting journalists can get first-hand information and increase their awareness about problems of entrepreneurs.