TOURISM IN KYRGYZSTAN - Tourism in Central Asia: Cultural Potential and Challenges - page 275

To conclude, it is possible to suggest that being very much a part of
the economy of Kyrgyzstan, the tourism sector was also negatively af-
fected by the ups and downs of the economic conditions that considerably
exacerbate economic corruption. Increasing corruption is considered to be
another major problem that hinders the development of tourism (Oktay,
2011). There are some reported cases of corruption in the field of tour-
ism, such as the Ak Keme (White Boat) Hotel that took its name from the
famous novel of Chinghiz Aitmatov. The hotel, built by a Turkish firm as
a joint partnership between Kyrgyzstan and Turkey, soon became very
popular with a rate of occupancy of at least 75%. However, soon, some
mafia groups (among whom, allegedly were top Kyrgyz officials from the
intelligence service of the country as well as some ministers) started to
threaten the Turkish managers of the hotel to demand a share from the
profits. Eventually these managers were deactivated and the new partners
of the hotel were determined by the mafia groups (Balbay, 1999).
THE POLITICAL PROBLEMS
Political problems also sometimes have a negative impact on the poten-
tial of Kyrgyzstan to develop its tourism sector, despite the fact that in
early 1990s, Kyrgyzstan seemed to be different than other Central Asian
countries in terms of its commitment to democracy. Askar Akaev, who
was elected to the newly created post of presidency by the deputies of
the Supreme Soviet on 28 October 1990, soon would be renowned for his
commitment to liberal democracy and market economy calling his country
“an oasis of democracy” and “an island in the midst of a tempest, which
could, however, be suppressed by high seas” (Capisani, 2000). Akaev was
quick to realize several elections and referendums for democratic transi-
tion, and in the early years of independence Kyrgyzstan was far ahead
of other Central Asian countries in terms of basic freedoms such as free-
dom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of association. The ju-
diciary was also more independent and the legislature more representa-
tive. Akaev was quick in realizing many legal reforms to guarantee the
protection of property rights too (Roudnik, 2007). 19 However, in time he
shifted to more authoritarian policies and started to concentrate more and
19 For a detailed analysis of some of the major political events in the first decade of Kyrgyzstan's inde-
pendence, see Anderson (1999).