Kyrgyzstan has proposed introducing a single visa-free regime for foreign tourists that will allow visitors to travel freely throughout all countries of Central Asia.
The initiative was put forward by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov during his meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in March. Japarov said that Central Asian countries need to introduce a single visa, similar to the EU’s Schengen visa, to attract more tourists to the region.
The idea was floated again by the Chairman of Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliyev. Speaking at the opening of the international forum “Tourism 2030: Central Asia as a Single Tourist Space” in Cholpon-Ata on May 3, Kasymaliyev noted that Central Asian countries have successfully resolved their border demarcation issues and can now move to creating a single tourist space in Central Asia.
“I would like to especially note the initiative voiced by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic to form a single visa-free space for Central Asian countries. This initiative is aimed at creating an opportunity for foreign tourists to travel freely around the region, combining routes, sites and the cultural wealth of our countries in one tourist package. The creation of such a cross-border format will not only strengthen the position of Central Asia on the global tourist map, but will also be an important step towards strengthening trust and regional integration and promoting the common brand ‘Central Asia — the territory of hospitality’,” Kasymaliyev stated.
The forum discussed key areas of tourism development in the region: interregional cooperation, cross-border routes, the introduction of innovative IT solutions, and support for tourism startups.
According to the National Statistical Committee, in 2024, Kyrgyzstan earned $1.016 billion from receiving foreign tourists, 2.2% more than in 2023. The share of tourism in the country’s GDP was 5.8%. By 2030, Kyrgyzstan plans to increase this figure to 7%, ensure an annual increase in the number of tourists (domestic and foreign) by 10%, and make Kyrgyzstan one of the world’s 50 most competitive tourist destinations according to the World Economic Forum ranking.
