Number of Kazakhstan tourists in Kyrgyzstan grew 40 percent

The number of Kazakhstan tourists in Kyrgyzstan and particularly at Issyk-Kul lake increased 35-40 percent in June, KazTAG reports citing representative of Baiterek tourist company Raushan Sartayeva. “Active phase of political events in Kyrgyzstan is over and the number of tourists, especially from Kazakhstan, is growing. Over 35 thousand Kazakhstan tourists traveled to Kyrgyzstan in June. This is 35-40 percent more than in 2010,” Sartayeva said at the press-conference on Monday. She reminded that Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan tourist companies have established regular flights from Almaty to Issyk-Kul. The planes will fly twice a week. “We have made the first flight from Almaty to Tamchi (airport on the North shore of Issyk-Kul 42 km from Balykchi town) on June 30 and came back to Almaty today. The plan is to make 18 trips by the end of the season,” Sartayeva said. According to Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Economic Regulation, around 2 million tourists visited Kyrgyzstan in 2009, 70 percent of them are Kazakhstan citizens. However, compared to 2008, the tourists flow decreased by 50 percent. Profits from tourism decreased even further in 2009 making around 40 percent of the 2008 level.