Bishkek, July 21, 2026. /Kabar/. In his address to the nation, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov spoke about the development of the tourism industry and noted its growing importance to the country's economy.
The head of state reported that the number of tourists visiting Kyrgyzstan has increased significantly in recent years.
"While 2-3 million tourists visited Kyrgyzstan annually before 2020-2021, today their number has reached 13 million," Sadyr Zhaparov noted.
According to him, the growth in tourist flow demonstrates not only increased international interest in Kyrgyzstan but also the country's economic development.
"This speaks to economic growth, that Kyrgyzstan is becoming increasingly recognized internationally and attracting more and more foreign visitors," the president stated.
He emphasized that with a population of approximately 7 million, the number of tourists is almost twice that of Kyrgyzstan's residents, which has a positive impact on the economy.
"When almost twice as many tourists visit as there are residents, this means an additional contribution to GDP growth of 4-5%," said Sadyr Zhaparov.
The president noted that many countries are investing significantly in promoting their tourism opportunities.
"Many countries spend billions on advertising to attract tourists. We must appreciate the fact that people choose Kyrgyzstan and come to us," the head of state emphasized.
He called on citizens to treat every guest of the country with respect, noting that tourism development is directly linked to the well-being of the population.
"Every tourist contributes to the country's economy, and therefore to the well-being of every Kyrgyzstani. Therefore, I ask that you treat every tourist with care and respect," the president said.
Sadyr Zhaparov emphasized that the tourism industry has a long-term future and can become a key area of economic development.
"Mineral reserves will eventually be depleted, but tourism will remain. In the future, tourism will become one of the main pillars of the Kyrgyz economy," he noted.
The head of state also urged citizens to develop professional skills in the tourism industry.
"Even if you don't want to work in the construction industry, learn to be a guide, host tourists, and contribute to the development of the tourism industry today," Sadyr Zhaparov said.