I was sitting a Geography exam once, and was completely thrown.  I really prepared well for the exam.  I had noticed that the first question on the Physical Geography paper was always about glaciation – and glaciation was one topic that I felt I knew back to front.  So when it came time to turn the question paper over and read the question, you can imagine my surprise when I read: “To what extent can the landform of these islands be attributed to the Pleistocene period.”  I was not only “thrown” … I was confused, dumfounded, devastated.  OK – If I really knew glaciation “back to front” then I should have known that it was the technical name for the Ice Age.

Fortunately, as I went through the rest of the paper looking, (unsuccessfully, of course), for the glaciation question I found there were other questions that I was able to answer.  In the end, I got my pass grade.

Incidentally, RF Delderfield, in his novel “To serve them all my days”, has one of his characters tell his Science class that first question on the Biology paper was always about Blood, and he dictated to them the first line for their essay … which they were supposed to learn and quote word for word … as it would convince the examiner that they were not the dunces that they might be.

If only it was that easy!

I was very lucky in another exam that I sat … There were twelve questions on the paper and we had to answer five.  My mood went from bad to worse as I read through them … I didn’t like question one, and question two wasn’t much better … and neither was number three … and so it went on for question after question ,,, it wasn’t necessarily that I didn’t know the answers, but I didn’t feel very confident that I could do myself justice if I tackled them.

Then I came to question number eight and I picked up my pen.  At last a question that I felt I could answer and not dry up half way through.  One of my tutors once told me that he liked my essay very much, he was enjoying it very much, but …   What a horrible word that is, “but …”.  The trouble was, he said that I started off well and was just getting going, and then it suddenly came to an end … I didn’t see the problem.  I thought I had answered the question, and written a pretty full answer given the time available … but, (there it is again), he seemed to think that I could have gone on and said more … much more.  Anyway, I wasn’t going to run out of steam on question eight.

Incidentally – I know that I shouldn’t have picked up my pen until I had read the paper all the way through … but by the time I got to question eight I was beginning to feel quite demoralized.  I was so happy to find a question I liked.

When I finished question eight I turned to question nine, confident that I had at least one reasonable answer under my belt.  I was feeling even better when I read the question … this was another one that I felt happy about and so picked up my pen and started work on constructing an answer.

Question ten was a good one as well … as were eleven and twelve.  In the end I got my five answers – and a pass grade … but thank goodness there weren’t just seven questions on the paper, or I would have been in serious trouble.

Now, the standard tactic often used by students when they meet a question they don’t like is to change it into one that they do like by changing a word, or two.

Of course it is not a very good tactic, because if the question is about the reason for Britain’s entry into the First World War, there’s not much point in pretending it really says the Second World War and writing about Chamberlain, Munich, Hitler and Poland … but, unfortunately, many students do try this.  I know from my days as an examiner.

This all came to mind because the other day I was watching a lecture by Professor David Starkey and he actually referred to it … apparently he surprised at one conference when he saw the topic he was supposed to be giving a lecture on was “Anniversaries and events that have, or have not, changed the course of history”, but he had prepared something quite different.

He announced that he was going to change the word “history” and substitute it with “Cambridge” … which more or less fitted with what he had prepared.  Fortunately, he is a professor and was delivering a lecture to a conference and not a student sitting an examination … so he was able to get away with it.

Anyway, it reminded me of speech I had to give a short while ago.  Actually, someone else was booked to give the speech, but had to drop out because of another urgent meeting, and he asked me to give the speech in his stead.  It happened to be a subject I felt confident about, as I had given similar talks on it before … even in my faltering Russian … so you can imagine my surprise, confusion, dismay when I arrived on the morning of the conference to read on the programme a totally different title for my speech.

To make matters worse, there were several different versions of the programme circulating in the room – and each version seemed to have a different title …

I approached the organizers and explained my dilemma.  “Don’t worry,” they said, “just deliver the speech that you have prepared.”

As it happens, I was rescued because time was running out.  Several of the earlier speeches over ran, and because it was a jubilee, marking the fifteenth anniversary of an Institute of Higher Education, there was much back slapping and congratulations.  In the end, there wasn’t enough time for me to deliver my speech, so I adlibbed.

The Conference was called ‘The Third International Scholarly-Practical Conference “Business and Education: Interaction and Development”‘  … and this is, more or less, what I said …

BFEA has long been involved in tourism.  They were one of the founder members of The Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators, (KATO), and for many years provided both the secretariat and a venue for our meetings – until, that is, we grew too large for all the members to be accommodated in their Library.

They have been especially active in the field of Ecotourism, one of the themes of this year’s conference, producing an excellent textbook on Ecological Management with particular reference to the management of Sanatoria and other enterprises in the Issyk Kul tourist zone, and establishing the Chamber of Ecological Auditors with an aim to establish standards and certification for hotels, resorts, sanatoria, etc..

I must say that I like the title of the conference – with one reservation.

“The third conference” … which means it is not a “one-off”, but part of a series of such events.  Once could say that as the third such conference it has already established itself as a regular feature – almost a tradition.  In English, we have a saying that “Rules are made to be broken, but Traditions are meant to be kept”!  Let us hope that the practice of holding such conferences will indeed continue and as a tradition.

“International” …  to me, both as a foreigner (an Englishman), and as I work in tourism, this is very important.  Kyrgyzstan is a small country – richly endowed in many respects, but a small country and it cannot hope to survive in the modern world if it remains in splendid isolation.  We live in a “Global Village” with a network of interconnecting economies.  As an international conference, today’s event helps us to put the situation in Kyrgyzstan into a context: a regional context, a world context – and as such helps us to understand ourselves and our situation much more clearly.

How often do we hear, (or use), the phrases “European standard” or “international standard”? – especially when someone wants to criticise or denigrate local business and practice.  It is true that we can learn a lot from abroad: international experience can widen our horizons; it can give us new ideas and techniques to employ in our activities; it can provide us with standards and benchmarks to compare ourselves and place ourselves on a global scale.  We should also remember, however, that Kyrgyzstan is not, for example, Russia, or the United Kingdom, or Turkey, or anywhere else.  We have our own specific situation and circumstances so that what works in one country may not work here.  We need to learn from other people’s experience about what works well, in what circumstances and why, and then to adapt it to meet our own situation.

We should also remember that we in Kyrgyzstan have much to offer and it should be a dialogue – not a lecture, not a one way transfer of knowledge, skills and experience.

“Scholarly-Practical” … again, to me this is very important.  Theory is all well and good, but in practice the real world may throw up many things to upset theory.  On the other hand, practice without a firm foundation in theory is a recipe for chaos.  We need both.   Again, we need a dialogue.

“Business and Education” … I suppose that this is an extension of “scholarly-practical” with Business representing the practical, real world, and Education the scholarly, theoretical.  Business and Education don’t exist in isolation, we need one another.  Education needs business as the future employers of their graduates.  Business needs Education to provide the next generation of our employees, and colleagues.  There is a saying that “Our children are our future” and if we are to be fair to them then we to equip them as best we can to meet the trials and difficulties that they are likely to encounter in later life.  It is no good if Education provides graduates unsuited to work in our businesses in the real world, nor if it produces graduates who don’t have the theoretical background, experience, adaptability and flexibility to meet and overcome new and unfamiliar situations.

If I have one reservation about the title, it is this: I think you are missing two important players, or stakeholders, – Government and Society.

“Interaction and Development” … interaction means communication and dialogue … and this conference is an example of that dialogue, bringing together both academics and businessmen.

KATO also offers another platform for that dialogue.  Although it is the Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators, we have a wide range of institutions represented in our membership.   At present we have fifty three members – most of them are tour companies involved in “inbound tourism”, that is we bring tourists into the country and show them the variety of splendours that the country has to offer, whether that is the landscape, the wildlife, the places connected with the rich historical heritage of the country, or the traditional culture and lifestyle of the nomadic Kyrgyz.  Some of our companies are large, well established firms which have been operating for nearly twenty years, whilst others are smaller, perhaps a small family business, and newer, some having started operating only in the last year or so.  Some of our members also work in the “outbound tourism” market, sending local people abroad as tourists; offer other services such as insurance or rescue services; or operate hotels in Bishkek, pensionats, hotels, resorts or sanatoria on Lake Issyk Kul.

We also have three institutes of Higher Education as members – including BFEA, which was, as I said, one of our founding members and has been an active member of the Association throughout our existence.

One thing that they all have in common is that they have been accepted as members by others who work in the industry, who recognize them as serious and experienced people.  Together the members are responsible for the general policy of the Association; there is President and Presidium to oversee the day to day operations and an executive director to implement the various activities of the Association.

Amongst those activities is work on providing training for those who work, (both now and future potential employees), in tourism – drawing together both educational institutions and businesses amongst our members.  The staff of BFEA, for example, contributed to one of our publications, a handbook for guides, and we were able to arrange sponsorship for the publication of “The Road of Chingiz Aitmatov” – which was course material prepared by students of the Academy.

We see this vital if our businesses, (and tourism in Kyrgyzstan in general), are to grow and develop.  Tourism is a service industry – our customers do not buy material objects from us, but an experience.  That experience depends on many things, such as the landscape, the facilities and infrastructure, but above it depends upon the professionalism and expertise of the personnel who work in the industry.

In fact, in the Tourism sector there is a lot of cooperation between business and educational institutions, which goes far beyond the traditional practice of providing students with internships, (or work experience placements – “practica”).  I would appeal to all businessmen to follow this example and become involved in preparing the next generation for work in their industry.  Likewise, I would appeal to all those in Education to involve business in their courses: in the design of courses; delivery (invite businessmen as guest speakers, to try and make sure that they incorporate into their courses practical examples drawn from real life …); examinations and assessment.

Once again, I want to stress that this represents interaction, cooperation and dialogue, between partners – it is not, and should not be, a case of one side trying to domineer or dominate the other.

(For the record: This is only one aspect of the activities that we undertake.  Amongst the others are disseminating information, including publishing materials; marketing, (Volodya Petrov, our Executive Director, who was supposed to be speaking here today, is currently representing the Association in the Bishkek International Tourism Fair); lobbying, (for example: attending meetings, round tables, consultations over issues such as the new draft law “On Tourism”, Visa reform, or tax reform); and representing members before government bodies and other agencies.

Our mutual aim or target of our interaction is to achieve Development.

As businessmen, of course, we want to our businesses develop and grow and it is easy to think of an Association such as ours as existing only to represent and protect the interests of its members.  Although this is indeed one of our tasks, the overriding principle of what we do is always to develop the industry so that it becomes a major sector of the Kyrgyz Economy.  This is not just a case of self interest, (although we obviously hope that visitors to the country will use our services, however, we do have to acknowledge the fact that there is a growing tendency for people to prefer to travel as “independent travellers”).  Like Kyrgyzstan in the wider world, we cannot operate in isolation.  We rely on other service providers, be it the owners of yurts or homestays, hotels, cafes and restaurants, museums, folklore groups – and also banks, providers of internet services, medical practitioners and other services in the wider community, including institutes of higher education.

So, in closing, I would like to congratulate BFEA on its 15 years of successful activities; on the occasion of this third International Scholarly-Practical Conference “Business and Education Interaction and Development” and especially on the title they have chosen which encompasses so much and gives a clear indication of how to proceed.

When I first came to Bishkek I was asked a lot of questions about why I had come here, my life back in the United Kingdom and about the differences I noticed between the two countries.

When we established the Celestial Mountains Tour Company and our two hotels in Bishkek and Naryn, the questions changed, and were mainly about doing business in the Kyrgyz Republic.

For the last three years, while I was President of the Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators (KATO), the question I received most of all was: “How is it that an Englishman is the President of the KYRGYZ Association of Tour Operators?”

In some ways, this question is one of the easiest to answer: “You should ask the members who elected me.”  When I was asked if I would stand for election I was reluctant.  “Please don’t refuse simply because your passport is a different colour”, I was told.  Although this was an issue, however, my reluctance wasn’t just a question of my nationality.

I was also conscious, for example, that there was language barrier, as I don’t speak Kyrgyz, and my Russian, although adequate for everyday communication, is not fluent.

It is true that the fact that I have a different nationality was sometimes important.  Sometimes it was helpful, whilst at others it was a handicap. As a foreigner, I was born into, and grew up in, a different culture and system, and this, of course, influences the way I think and the decisions I make and the actions I take.

Let me illustrate the point with three examples: The roles of the government, business (the private sector), and the Association (the voluntary sector).

Consider, first of all, the question of the role of the government in the development of tourism.

In Britain, people tend to think that there should be limited (if not minimal) government involvement in daily life.  The government should safeguard the safety and security of society, (protecting the borders, policing the streets to prevent crime and so forth). It should create and maintain a safe environment to enable and encourage people to develop their full potential, in their personal lives, (be it in terms of cultural, religious or social activity) and also in business.  This is usually done by monitoring (collecting and analyzing statistical data), and where necessary introducing regulations and supervising activities.  There is always a certain amount of discussion about exactly what measures should be used and to what extent, and what element of compulsion, should be involved.  On the whole, however, people and businesses are left to manage and control their own destinies, within the framework of the obligations and responsibilities imposed by the system.  Generally, it is considered that the only time that government should be actively involved in anything approaching a business venture is when it can provide goods and services more efficiently than others in the private sector.

In Kyrgyzstan, on the other hand, there is a tendency to expect the government to take an active involvement in almost all aspects of life.  There may be various historical and cultural reasons for this, and it is perfectly understandable in terms of a “central command economy”, as the government is responsible for both deciding the general direction of economic and social policy, and also for the actual implementation of that policy.

In a “market economy”, however, such as the Kyrgyz Republic has embraced since independence, it is the individual entrepreneur and the private sector that provide the engine of prosperity and progress, working within the framework of policy, priorities, and the overall business environment which is set by the government.   In a market economy the role of government is not to “decide” and “command” but rather to enable others to participate and develop in that “market”.

That does not mean, however, that businesses should be given a totally free hand.  One of the purposes of government is to protect its citizens.  It is a complex situation in which the needs of several groups, (for example, the wider community which could be represented as the state, businesses and the consumer), need to balanced.

That brings me to my second example, the role of business.

Business seems to have an unsavoury reputation here.  For example, I remember when I was learning Russian reading in an old, Soviet, textbook the phrase: “Business is the art of removing money from one person’s pocket to another’s without them complaining.”  Whilst I remember with affection the first time I was called “tovarish”, I also remember less affectionately the two occasions I have been called a “capitalist”, and in particular the vehemence, (even the hatred), that seemed to be conveyed.  On another occasion, I was in a meeting where one of the participants complained about a trader buying and selling goods at a profit as “speculation”.

There seems to be a general impression that the business is basically concerned with the “selfish pursuit of profit” and sometimes it appears as if, here in Kyrgyzstan, “profit” is seen here in Kyrgyzstan as a bad thing in itself.  In the United Kingdom, (which, according to Napoleon described as a “nation of shopkeepers”), we only think this if someone is making what appears to be an excessive, or “obscene”, profit out of a deal.

Of course, the entrepreneur wants to make a profit.  It is a powerful motivating force behind his decision to enter into business.

More than this, however, profit is important.  If an enterprise does not make a profit it would become bankrupt and go out of business, which would not be good for anyone: the entrepreneur himself, their employees, their suppliers, the consumers, or the wider community which would lose a resource and tax revenue.

The businessman or entrepreneur makes an investment, (whether financial, in terms of money other material resources, or personal, in time and effort), accepting the risk of failure because they are motivated by the potential rewards of success.

Risk is an important factor.  When thinking about starting a business most people concentrate on the profit that can be made, and they overlook or minimize the risks and consequences of failure.  It is easy to highlight the Strengths and Opportunities of a business proposal while making light of the Weaknesses and Threats that are involved.  It is as if they think that if they have sufficient motivation and drive, then they cannot fail?  Unfortunately, however, the risk of failure is all too real.  In the United Kingdom most of the newly established businesses close within their first year.  A wise entrepreneur prepares himself properly and considers all of these aspects of their business plan.

Nobody likes to fail, and the fear of failure can be as powerful a motivating factor as the desire for success.

If businessmen are to accept the risks, and the responsibility entailed, then it suggests that they must be allowed to make their own decisions about the conduct of their business.  That does not mean that they should be given “carte blanche”.  The chaos and anarchy that would result would be to nobody ’s benefit.  Hence there is need for a balance between the role and responsibilities of both, the state and of the private sector.

This brings me to my third example: the role of the Association.

A business does not exist in isolation, it is part of a wider community and it has responsibilities and obligations to that wider community.  Some of these are formally encoded in the legislation of the country, (such as obeying the law, following procedures and paying taxes), whereas others are more nebulous and of a moral character, like being a good neighbour or supporting local good causes.

An example of participating in the wider community is joining an Association.  A number of such organizations have appeared in Kyrgyzstan in the recent past, one of them being KATO.

My father served as a trade union official and, in my turn, so did I.  The experience that I gained during this time taught me several valuable lessons about working in, and for, a “voluntary” organization.

The first lesson was that an association is exactly that, a voluntary organization.  No-one is forced to belong.  Membership is not compulsory.  There are many reasons why members decide to join.

One reason might be the status that membership brings.  One organization in the West used to run an advertising campaign with the slogan: “Membership says something about you”.  It helps, of course, if the Association is a strong and respected body, then membership really can have value, but that value is limited when the Association is recognized as being little more than a small pressure group.

Another, similar, slogan was: “Membership has its benefits”, which is often a reason for deciding to join an Association.  Of course, membership should bring benefits.  This may be the main reason why members decide to join an Association.  Some benefits may be material, such as discounts or access to information and marketing opportunities, but others are more abstract.  One of those benefits is the promotion, lobbying and protection of common, shared, interests.

That sounds like “self interest”, but it is not that simple.

One of the common interests shared by members of an Association such as KATO is ensuring that Kyrgyzstan is a strong and vibrant country, with a strong and thriving economy and, (for KATO in particular), a strong and successful Tourism sector.  For example, as a tour operator I need to have access to good accommodation for my clients throughout the country, a range of activities and outlets which I can offer them.  This is the reason the first aim of the Association is to make tourism a leading element in the economy and life of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Every tourist is different.  Every group is different.  They all have different objectives and different expectations when they decide to visit Kyrgyzstan.  Some want to simply relax on a beach at Lake Issyk Kul, whilst others seek a more active holiday.  Some request five star the luxury of the Hyatt Regency, whilst others prefer the traditional hospitality of nomadic yurt.  Some want to “get away from it all” and welcome the time spent trekking or riding in the isolated mountainous landscapes whereas others need internet access and mobile telephone coverage wherever they go.   An organized tour in a comfortable, air-conditioned coach is appropriate for one group, but others prefer the freedom of “independent” travel, taking shared taxis and deciding on the details of their itinerary as they go.

As a result, in Kyrgyzstan we need to have a range of facilities offering a diversity of opportunities within the country.  This can, of course, lead to problems.  Although this variety increases the range of facilities and service, increasing the pool of potential clients and offering them a choice, choice also means competition.

Competition, like profit, is not a bad thing in itself.  For one thing, competition acts as a spur which motivates businesses to respond to changes in the market and improve their range and standards of facilities and service.   Like many species, a failure to adapt to changes in the environment can lead to death and extinction.

Also, although the service providers, (for example: hotels, guesthouses, resorts on Issyk Kul, a ski-base in the Kyrgyz Krebet, a Homestay in a rural village or a yurt in a remote jailoo), are all competitors in one respect, (in this case a night spent in one cannot be spent in another), they are also colleagues with common interests and problems. In order to overcome pursue, promote and protect these interests and solve their common problems they need join together in a spirit of collective partnership and cooperation.

An Association is a collective, a combination of a number of different members, each with their own specific interests and point of view.  An Association cannot, and should not, pursue the interest of just one member, or even of a small specific group of members.  This illustrates another lesson that I learned as a trade union official: the representative of the Association has to present the collective view of the membership to the best of their ability, even if, sometimes, that means that they have to put to one side their own views and opinions.  The Chairman (President) of an Association, the Committees and the Executive organs of the Association have to represent the membership as a whole.  This is difficult to achieve, because there is no single viewpoint.

For the Association to have a view it needs to canvass the opinions of its members.  There needs to be a debate or discussion of the issues.  Discussion means that every member should have the opportunity to present their own view.  Decisions should be based on logic, not on who speaks loudest or longest.

It is also necessary for members to understand that, sometimes they will win the debate but that at other times a different view will prevail, and that the Association cannot do everything.  It is necessary to decide what it is possible to achieve, what issues are worth pursuing within the limited resources that are available.  Priorities have to be allocated.

For the individual member this can create problems.  They feel that their interests, (or their point of view), are not being promoted as strongly as others or, worse, are being ignored.

Originally published in Tourism in Kyrgyzstan: Practice, Problems and Perspectives.

Recent events have thrust the Kyrgyz Republic to the attention of the world’s media.  The press coverage has naturally concentrated on the dramatic events such as the storming of the government house, the change of government, and the civil disorder (riots and looting) that followed.  Time has passed since those historic events occurred, however, and life in the republic continues as the situation calms down and returns to a sense of normality.

Tourism is a major part of the Kyrgyz economy.  Over one and a half million foreigners visited the country in 2004.  Some of those would have been here on business, but about half of them were tourists.  They may have chosen the Kyrgyz Republic for their vacation so that they could enjoy the spectacular Tien Shan Mountains; or the pristine natural environment and varied wildlife; or the traditional lifestyle and culture of nomadic shepherds; or to travel along part of the Great Silk Road; or simply to relax on the shores of Lake Issyk Kul.

“It is true that seeing riots on the streets is not likely to encourage the potential tourist to think about Kyrgyz Republic as a likely holiday destination,” admits Ian Claytor, President of the Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators (KATO).  “They should remember, however, that this is the first time that Kyrgyzstan has been headline news in the rest of the world.  (In fact, this may be the only time it ever achieves such prominence).  That’s because the events of the last week were extraordinary.  When Kyrgyzstan is not the ‘Top Story of the Hour’ the reason is simply because everything is normal.  These events were not typical, they are not normal.

“The advice of the KATO members to those who were thinking of visiting Kyrgyzstan this year is: ‘Wait and see’.  Don’t cancel your holiday yet.  Everyone was surprised at the speed with which events developed, but the signs are that the situation is now calm and returning to normal.

“Kyrgyz culture is one of hospitality.  When a nomadic shepherd spends months alone in the mountains tending their flocks, then every visitor is a welcome guest – and that tradition prevails as the norm.  It was not by accident that the motto chosen for this year was ‘Hospitable Kyrgyzstan’.”

END.

Notes for editors:

1. Kyrgyzstan is a small, landlocked country in Central Asia. One of the former Soviet Republics it declared its independence in 1991.  It is predominantly mountainous with over 90% of the country above 1500m, and the backbone of the landscape is formed by the Tien Shan Mountains.  Lake Issyk Kul is the world’s second largest mountain lake and its beaches and resorts, (hotels, sanatoria), have long been a popular holiday destination for citizens of the former Soviet Union.  The Kyrgyz are traditional a nomadic people, who take their horses and sheep into the high mountain meadows (jailoo) to graze on the lush pastures for the summer.  It formed an important link on the Great Silk Road, between the orient (China) and the ancient cities of Uzbekistan.
2. Recent events which have thrust the country into the international spotlight have included a parliamentary election; protests against the disputed results of those elections which led the storming of the Government house in the capital, Bishkek, and the establishment of a new government; a night of serious civil disorder, which included rioting and looting.
3. Tourism is a major part of the Kyrgyz economy, representing just over 4% of the GDP.
4. According to official statistics from the Border authorities, in 2004 1527500 foreigners crossed the state border – according to the State Statistical Committee, there were 703700 tourists recorded in the first nine months of the year.
5. According to official figures there were 115 Tour Operators and Tour Agencies working in the country in 2004.  There were almost 400,000 enterprises working in the industry (hotels, restaurants, casinos, homestays (Bed and Breakfasts), transport companies, etc.).
6. The Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators is the largest body representing Tour Operators and Institutes of Higher Education in the Republic.  It was formerly established and registered as a non-commercial organization in 1997, having existed as an ad hoc, unofficial, body for several years.  It is a growing organization – there are currently 39 members (which equates to about one third of all tour operators in the country) which includes some of the longest established and largest tour companies in the country, as well as ones which have been established more recently.
7. The President of the Association is currently Ian Claytor – a British citizen who has lived and worked in the Kyrgyz Republic since 1995.

Is that Good News – or Bad News? – THE KEY WORD IS “RECOVERY”

The world is beginning to hear about the Kyrgyz Republic . Articles are appearing in foreign newspapers and on foreign TV News programmes, not to mention on the “information superhighway” – the internet.

Normally I would be very happy about that. As a tour operator, involved with trying to attract people to visit the Kyrgyz Republic and one of the biggest problems we face is the lack of knowledge, (particularly in the West) about this small, landlocked, Central Asian country. If Kyrgyzstan is in the news, then that should raise the country’s profile and more people will learn about us, and more will want to come and visit us.

Over the last few years, those of us working in the Tourism industry have been trying to publicize the country – the magnificent mountains; the natural habitat; the hospitable people; and their traditional culture; the fascinating history of the Silk Road – and the many historical characters that have helped to shape events and has influence reached far beyond the local confines of Central Asia.

As businessmen, (of course), we have been trying to sell our particular products – tours: accommodation, transport, guide services, meals, souvenirs, formalities … and so forth. Such has been the lack of knowledge of the country, however, that we have had to put all of this into a wider context … Where is Kyrgyzstan ?; What does it have to offer?; Why should tourists consider it as a possible destination?; What can they do when they get here? … and so on.

We have attended exhibitions, published catalogues, established websites, issued video cassettes and Compact Discs, sought to place stories in the foreign media, arranged special tours for representatives of the press and foreign tour companies.

In the past few years, we have faced a number of problems which have hit our industry hard. One year, a lorry falling from a bridge polluting a mountain stream virtually destroyed the whole summer season on Lake Issyk Kul. Two years running, there were incursions in the south of the country by insurgents who took foreigners as hostages. Another year, the appearance of SARS – which closed the border with China – killed the Silk Road route.

At long last a tourism promotion board, (called the “Destination Market ing Association”), has been established in the country, which is being supported by grant aid from Switzerland and has only just started its work. The aim is to spread the “good news” about Kyrgyzstan – to help increase awareness about the country and its potential as a tourist destination; maximize the number of foreign visitors and thus increase the contribution made by tourism to the Kyrgyz economy and improve the standard of living for the general population.

The first major activity of the Association – organizing the Kyrgyz stand at the ITB exhibition in Berlin has just taken place. The second, attendance at the MITT exhibition in Moscow is underway at this moment. These exhibitions are important … contacts are made with tour companies from around the world: from the CIS countries, from Europe , from America and more distant countries. People are interested. Contracts are signed. Details of tours agreed. The future looks promising. More tourists will come here, spend money in the country. People will have work – guides, drivers, cooks, hotel workers, in cafes and restaurants, in sanatoria and resorts, owners of homestays in the villages, … and others. Souvenirs will be bought in the shops. There will be more visitors to the museums helping to cover the costs of maintaining the displays and so preserve the heritage for future generations. There will be more money in the Kyrgyz economy. They will be more taxes paid into the budget.

The future looked promising.

Much of the work that is being done is not actually going to show results this year. All of the marketing and promotion that is taking place now is aimed at next year – 2006, and beyond. In fact most of the bookings for this year were received last year or over the winter period.

There will be some tourists who yet to decide where to spend their holidays this year – but that will only be a small proportion of the total number of visitors, Holidays normally take some planning – dates have to be fixed, flights booked, accommodation reserved, services arranged, as well as saving to pay for all of this. When spending (large) sums of money on things like air tickets, the consumer does not usually make a decision lightly, nor at the last minute.

During the last week, tour operators have been busy answering questions. Unfortunately, instead of replying to “last minute” enquiries or finalizing arrangements for groups that have already been booked – as would be normal at this time of year – they have been answering questions about safety and security – or acknowledging cancellations.

Tourists from the West that can afford to visit Kyrgyzstan can also afford to travel to travel to any part of the world. They have the world at the feet – and most of the countries of the world are vying for their custom. Why go to a place that could be dangerous?, or where there is civil disorder?, where there is the possibility of violence? Much better to cancel and chose a safer destination. Who can blame them?

The result is that the prospects for this year look bleak. It should be remembered that many decisions taken by tour companies around the world are not for this year – but for next year – and beyond.

Fewer visitors mean less money in the Kyrgyz economy, fewer jobs, less tax revenues for the budget, and also less interaction between visitors and their hosts, less communication between cultures and less mutual understanding.

The future no longer looks promising.

The key word now is: “Recovery”. How quickly can Kyrgyzstan recover what is being lost at the moment? This year may not yet be a total loss. Those tours already cancelled are unlikely to be reinstated – but those where people are “waiting it out” – to see how the situation develops, may yet be saved.

Kyrgyzstan is now in the news. People all over the world are learning about the country. Publicity would normally be welcome – but is this good publicity? There is an English phrase: “There is no such thing as bad publicity”, but in this case, it is hard to agree with that. On the positive side – more people will have heard about Kyrgyzstan – and will be better informed about the country and may have their interest aroused. On the negative side – what they see and hear is unlikely to persuade them that they should come and see the country, experience the mountains, the wildlife, the hospitality and culture of the people.

In this case, I think I prefer another English cliché: “No news is good news”.

This was a Press Release issued by the Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators to the local press in Kyrgyzstan.

Over the past year, several people have asked me, (as both the President of the Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators, (KATO), and as a member of the board of the Destination Marketing Association, (DMA)), why I think we need two separate Associations.

1. The Associations have different aims and objectives

In fact, KATO and the DMA are just two of the many non-commercial associations which work in the sphere of tourism – for example: the Kyrgyz Community Based Tourism Association (KCBTA) and the Issyk Kul Service Providers Association. Each body has its own aims and objectives and each represents the specific interests of other participants in the tourism sector.

The KATO Charter lists four aims of the Association and twelve tasks.   The main aim is to secure Tourism as one of the main branches of the Kyrgyz economy.  However, KATO also has other roles, which can be summarized as: to represent and protect the interests of it members – Tour Operators.   One of the tasks to help fulfil these aims is: “To carry out joint advertising and informative activities together with other interested parties.”   In other words – marketing is one of the fundamental roles for which the association was established.

The DMA was created with the specific aims of: “promotion of Kyrgyzstan as a country of tourism and national tour products in the world’s tourism markets;” and “the development of tourism in Kyrgyzstan.”

Both Associations therefore share common aims and tasks.  There is, however, a big difference in that the purpose of the DMA is more specific – it concentrates on marketing the country as a tourist destination.

2. Tourism is wider than Tour Operators

The membership of KATO is predominantly, as its name suggests, comprised of Tour Operators.  It is possible for other social organizations, such as Institutions of Higher Education offering courses in Tourism, to join.

Tour Operators may represent one of the more easily identifiable beneficiaries of the work of the DMA – but they are not the only ones.   Tourism is a sector of the economy and involves a far wider range of participants: places offering accommodation (hotels, sanatoria, resorts, guesthouses, Bed and Breakfast); restaurants and cafes; transport companies (airlines, railways, bus operators, taxis, …); shops (for example: selling souvenirs); places of entertainment (casinos, cinemas, …); cultural institutions (museums, parks, monuments …which receive entrance and other fees); the government (local and national – which receive tax revenue).  It is right and proper that all of these have an opportunity to belong to the Association, to participate in and to contribute to its activities.

3. Marketing a country is a special type of activity – different from marketing a company and its services.

When asked, most tour operators say that the biggest handicap they face when trying to market their services is the general lack of awareness about Kyrgyzstan abroad.  Where is it?  What is available? What recreational opportunities are there?  … and so forth.  Over the years, in addition to attempting to interest potential in their particular services, many tour operators have found it necessary to inform them, first, about Kyrgyzstan.  The former is a legitimate task for a tour operator – the latter is an additional burden.

It is also true that for several years the representation of the Kyrgyz Republic at various exhibitions and Tourism Fairs was organized by KATO.  At first this was with the support of GTZ but after Max Haberstroh’s contract came to an end, the Association took on the role with the assistance of the government.  Attendance at Tourism Fairs, however, is only one aspect of marketing.  True, it is an important aspect – but is just one aspect.

In the past, individual companies have also produced general brochures, posters, CD’s, films, websites and other materials can be produced about the republic, it is a distraction and additional expenses (financial and in terms of time and effort) from their real task of trying to sell their wares.   It also leads to haphazard coverage and different (contrasting and possibly conflicting) images being created.  It is in the interests of the company to highlight those aspects of the country which are most relevant to their own products – so some aspects will be highlighted and others ignored, or under represented.

The DMA does not exist to sell tours … the DMA exists to create and raise AWARENESS of the country and its tourism potential.  Although this has implications and benefits for tourism generally – there are others.  It can affect the image of the nation as a whole; it can affect investment proposals.

One way in which this awareness can be increased is to create opportunities for exposure of the country in the world’s media.  This can involve “Familiarisation Tours” for journalists – a task which is unlikely to be undertaken by individual tour operators – who will concentrate on providing such opportunities for tour operators, (existing and potential partners) who will send clients to them in the future.  Instead of creating a showpiece of the country – they will concentrate on providing a taste of the services and opportunities that they can offer.

Another way in which the DMA can fulfil its task is to monitor press coverage of the republic abroad to see how Kyrgyzstan is perceived in its target markets – and then organize a follow up.  For example: if a story appears in the British press about the tradition of hunting with eagles, then try to place another about the release of Boris Yeltsin’s eagle to the wild.  Again, this is an opportunity which – if left to individual companies – will be disorganised and may be missed entirely.

4. Involvement of the State Sector

There are several possible models for the operation of a Tourism Marketing Board, for example:

1. A state run agency;
2. A quasi-autonomous body with representation and contributions from both state and private sectors;
3. A private company.

Generally, throughout the world, the work of promoting a region or country, (creating a favourable image), is usually seen as part of the role of the state.  Even in countries like the United Kingdom, where there is no Ministry of Tourism, the government is involved in this sort of activity.   The government has a definite role to play – apart from the aim of increasing the tax revenues from tourism, they also have an interest in protecting the image and reputation of the state.  Often, however, governments work in partnership with the private sector – which also has a direct financial incentive to participate in the process.

When the project design team for the DMA examined the various models, they recommended one based on the experience of many other countries.  They stressed the need for both partners, (public and private), to work in partnership, both contributing to the financing and managing of the marketing activities.  This was a condition of the project receiving approval from Switzerland.  The money being contributed by Berne is Swiss taxpayers’ money – and they are accountable for it.  They want the project to be successful and they consider that to be so it needs a commitment from both public and private sectors.

In order for the project to proceed, therefore, the government had to be given a managerial role within the marketing organization.  If this was to be KATO, then it would mean the government having a role in the day to day running of the Association … which could lead to problems such as a conflict of interest.

As a result, it was decided to set up a separate, specialist, Association with the original intiators from the Private sector and provision for a Management Board comprising equal representation between representatives of state bodies and representatives elected by the membership.

So, although it is possible that KATO could perform the tasks of the DMA … it is probably better that there are a number of separate, specialist, organizations to fulfill the different roles, some of which would represent the the interests of specific participants in the tourist industry (such as tour operators, or Bed and Breakfast homestays) and another would concentrate on marketing the country as a tourist destination.   Also, although the stimulus for creating of the DMA was the implementation of the Swiss project – it was just the catalyst which brought about a logical development, and the format chosen for the Association (as a joint venture between the state and private sectors) was based on a wider international experience and represents the best option for the successful implementation of such a venture.

Over the ten years I have lived in Kyrgyzstan, I have been asked many questions.

At first they were more personal (Was I married?, Did I have children?, … and so on). Many of the questions were concerned with the differences between life in Britain and life here in Kyrgyzstan … especially about salaries and the standard of living.

Then, people started to ask me about working in tourism, and doing business here in Kyrgyzstan. Such as:

Why the Kyrgyz Republic? – It was an accident really, I came first on holiday then was asked if I would come and help start a company here. I came for one year, and just never went home. There is something magnetic about the country, I am not sure what it is … the mountains (we have nothing as magnificent in Britain); the nature, (likewise), the friendliness of the people, (which is legendary – the Kyrgyz have even been referred to in a British newspaper as “the nice guys of Central Asia”); the history (which seems to emanate from everything … an ancient burial mound, the ruins of an ancient Silk Road city like at Krasnaya Rechka, Burana or even a roadside monument erected to someone like Arstnbek Bunlash uulu); or the fascinating culture (whether it be the Manas epos, shydaks, the music, hunting with eagles or traditional horse games).

Why Tourism? – simply because there is so much potential here. The mountains which form the backbone of the country divide it into many different regions, landscapes, climates – each with their own characteristics and attractions. The range of possible activities means that there is something here for just about everyone, whatever they are looking for: rest and recreation, adventure activities, exploring the historical and cultural background, …. The country is small enough to have a kaleidoscope of experiences in relatively short time and yet large enough to encompass a huge variety of peoples and opportunities without destroying the very things that make it attractive.

And, yes, there were questions about the differences between life in Britain and life here in Kyrgyzstan … especially about salaries and the standard of living.

Since becoming the President of KATO, the subject of the questions has changed. I am now asked questions like:

How come an Englishman became President of a Kyrgyz Association? – The answer is simple: I agreed to stand for election and was elected. I am very grateful for the confidence shown in me by my election. I take it as a sign of the openness and willingness to develop the Association, and tourism within the Republic. The Association has already grown and developed over the years since it was founded as a loose collection of companies which invited and brought visitors to Kyrgyzstan; people who loved their country and wanted to show its splendours to people from abroad.

Tourism is an important part of the Kyrgyz economy and the Association seeks to develop this. Although it is true that the companies that make up the membership of KATO are competitors, (in that we all provide tour services), we also all concerned to strengthen the industry. If the sector is strong then there is room for each company to grow and prosper … but if the sector is weak, then it will be harder for each one of us thrive and flourish.

There is great potential to develop the sector, which will bring benefits of employment, income and opportunity to the companies, the service providers they use, and (through the budget) to Kyrgyz society in general. As well as economic advantages, tourism helps to bring different peoples together and encourages a greater understanding and toleration between different nationalities and cultures.

And, yes, there are still questions about the differences between life in Britain and life here in Kyrgyzstan … especially about salaries and the standard of living.

The membership includes some of the longest established and largest tour companies in the country – as well as some smaller ones which were established more recently.  Besides representatives of tourist industry, the members of КАТО also include institutes of Further and Higher Education in Kyrgyzstan, which prepare students for work in the industry.

The Association was created with the purpose of protecting the interests of the tourism sector in Kyrgyzstan in, both, the foreign market and at the national level.  It set itself the primary goals of:

• To transform tourism in the Kirghiz Republic into a leading branch of the national economy;
• To achieve a support for the further development of tourism, according to its value in the economy of the republic;
• Creation of a social climate favourable for tourists in our country (the creation of employment, encouraging the development of national culture, education in ecological responsibility);
• Simplification of  the visa system and other formalities;

KATO is a founder member of the Fund for the Development of Tourism, the Organization for the marketing of Kyrgyzstan as a Tourist Destination (DMA), the Congress of Business Associations and it was one of the initiators of the Congresses of Tourist Business Associations.  Some of the members also serve on the government’s Tourism Council.

In its history, KATO has achieved concrete results and its voice carries weight among Kyrgyz legislators and others working in tourism.  It also works with local and international organizations and has organized a variety of activities, both in the country and abroad.

I served as President of the Association for the three years 2005 to 2007 and, after a “year off”, was re-elected to the post in 2009.

Website: www.kat.kg

If you are asking yourself, “What’s the Bologna Declaration?” – then you will understand how I felt when I received the invitation.  It took a bit of research – thank heavens for the internet … what would we do without it? - and although much of the material I found was duplicated … it looked a very interesting project.  In the end I felt that it had a lot to offer and was glad to know that Kyrgyzstan was going to try and implement its provisions.

What follows are the notes I prepared for my presentation.  After the introduction, (the easy bit), it’s mostly in note form – because, as I wasn’t the first speaker, I wasn’t sure how much of what I had planned would have been said before me by the earlier speakers.   I planned, wherever possible, to give concrete and practical examples.

(BD = Bologna Declaration; GosComTour = The State Committee for Tourism)

First of all let me address the question: Who am I and why is what I have to say relevant to the discussion?

I am an Englishman who happens to be in Bishkek where I am the Director of two companies: The Celestial Mountains Tour Company (which owns and operates the Silk Road Lodge hotel in Central Bishkek) and The Celestial Mountains Guest House in Naryn. So, I am here in part as an employer.

This year I am serving as the President of the Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators (KATO), which represents a large number of the companies working in the Tourism Industry in the Kyrgyz Republic – including some of the oldest, largest and well established companies – as well as a number of younger, smaller and emerging ones.  In that respect I am here as the representative of a major (and increasingly important segment) of the Kyrgyz Economy.

In a personal capacity, I should add that I am also here as a former teacher.  It is true that I worked mainly in the school sector – but I also have some experience in adult education, and considerable experience in the examination system in the United Kingdom.

Finally, let me add that as a foreigner – a European – I can offer a wider view or perspective than if I had been a product of the Kyrgyz educational system.  Of course that might also be a disadvantage – and it is something of which you should be aware.

Let me now consider the subject of our meeting: The Bologna Declaration and Process:

As I understand it:

Aims:

• Mutual recognition of Higher Education
• Increased staff and student mobility

Target group: Higher Education – the “professional” or “managerial level” – not the “operative” level, although there are implications for this.

Implementation:

• Cycles – 3-5-8 years (undergraduate, masters, postgraduate) – effect on Kyrgyz system which has different cycles;
• Credit transfer scores – useful for transfer between institutions, and assists with recognition of value – including other environments, not just Higher Education;
• Certification – leading to a European dimension in “quality assurance” with comparable criteria and methods.
• Diploma supplements –
• Promotion of mobility – problems of access and funding
• European content of courses – increased cooperation and joint degrees
• Promotion of lifelong learning

It is NOT an attempt to create either a unified curriculum or a unified system.  Diversity is recognized as something to be valued.

It is mainly concerned with the system rather than the content of educational courses.

It involves an action programme with a clearly defined timetable for achieving its goals.

Implementing bodies:

• Authorities: National (e.g. Ministries of Education); local authorities;
• Educational Institutions: individual or networks of Institutions,
• Subject based Associations,  (e.g. KATO …)

Tourism:

Recognized as a priority area by the Kyrgyz Government, although currently representing  about 4% of the GDP.

• The Current Situation in the Kyrgyz Republic:
  • Re-training in situ
  • Relevance of the Curriculum: Story about Ruslan and Thermodynamics
• What are employers looking for:
  • Knowledge – history, geography, culture, basic mathematics and accountancy, first aid,  …
  • Skills – language, management (organizational), technical (e.g. IT), problem solving …
  • Experience – in addition to academic achievement (study record) … “practical” work experience placements, employment record, …
  • Personality traits – honesty, adaptability, communication, presentability, “common sense” …

As employers we are more concerned with the final “product”, of the educational process – i.e. the graduates, and the content of courses they have followed: what is taught, how it is taught, (the methodology used in the classroom, technology …), rather than the details of the educational system itself, (which is something for the professionals).

• Theory v Practice … Knowledge v Skills … General v Specific:
  • Theory e.g.:
    • General e.g.:
      • Tourism – its place in the economy,
      • Psychology and the culture of “service”; personnel management (employees, clients … ),
      • Organizational matters,
      • Basic accountancy,
      • Principles of marketing,
      • Legal framework and regulations
      • …
    • Specific, Many aspects are particular to the country:
      • History,
      • Culture,
      • Natural environment,
      • Legal framework and regulations
      • …
  • Practice e.g.:
    • “work experience” placements;
    • Practical elements of course – e.g. “First Aid”; designing promotional materials for a tour itinerary; …
  • Knowledge .:
    • e.g Facts, figures, …
  • Skills e.g.:
    • The ability to find information they don’t already know;
    • Problem solving;
    • Computer skills;
    • Mathematical and accounting ability;
    • Adaptability;
    • …
  • General e.g.:
    • Life skills: e.g.:
      • Communication e.g.: How to write a CV;
    • Specific:
      • e.g. How to apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for visa support?

There is a need for Balance

• Implications of “Mutual Recognition of qualifications” and “Mobility”:
  • Students – BD can lead to a wider perspective and is to be welcomed
  • Teachers – BD can lead to a wider perspective and is to be welcomed
  • Graduates – BD can assist with employment and career progression, although mobility in Tourism may be questionable.
• Work undertaken on standards by GosComTour, the Ministry of Education and others, e.g.:
  • Standardization;
  • Course content;
  • …

This Round Table is an example of the work that is being undertaken – perhaps it is like the “tip of the iceberg” – the visible sign of much more work on than is visible.

There is a need for the involvement of the Private Sector, e.g. on management boards, awards panels … To be fair, this is often difficult to achieve, but is desirable … and I am grateful for the opportunity of being able to participate here as a positive sign that this is recognized.

• “Lifelong learning”:
  • Recognition that ‘Education’ is a continual process
  • The rapidly changing world – the role of technology
  • The “Job for a lifetime” culture of the past … versus the diversity of careers in the present world … length of time spent in one job.  The number of people changing professions … and the need for flexibility and the transfer of skills.
  • Recognition of “practical” knowledge gained outside the system of Higher Education … c.f. requirements for a Senior Housekeeper in a Hotel.
  • The need to change from a content based system to a process based system of education

Let’s start with the simple and the obvious … my name is Ian Claytor. I am British and was born on 8th March, 1953, in Malvern, Worcestershire.

Ian is a Scottish name, (it’s the Scottish equivalent of John, or “God’s Gift”), although there is nothing Scottish about the family. There aren’t that many Claytors around … and it seems that the Malvern branch of the family originally came from Nottinghamshire. There’s a family legend that tells that we are descended originally from a family called Clayton, who were local squires and landowners, but there was a scandal involving a gypsy girl and a curse placed on the “seventh son of the seventh son” … they seem to have gone in for big families in those days … and in an attempt to overcome the curse one of my ancestors changed his name by replacing the final letter, an “n”, with an an “r”. (An attempt to create an “alpha effect” with an “omega change”, as Arthur C. Clarke put it in one of his short stories.) I am not sure I believe the account, but it makes for a good story.

Actually, Ian is what it says on my Birth Certificate and in my passport – so it is my official name – but according to Canon Law, (Church Law, that is), it’s not my name at all. When I was born my mother had Tuberculosis – it cost her a lung and my father once told me that they “pulled the curtains”, (meaning that they thought that she was about to die), not just once but twice during this period. Anyway, when I finally made my appearance, they were so concerned that I might not survive that the doctor christened me then and there. Apparently he named me Royston and, as I said, according to Canon Law, once you are christened, then you have been given a name and that is your name. Full Stop! So, how come I am now Ian Claytor and not Royston Claytor. My mother explained it me like this: my older brother, Tony, had trouble saying my name – even in the short version, Roy. Apparently, he kept calling me “Boy”. “No son of mine is going to go through life being called “Boy”", she decided, and so when it came time to officially register the birth with the authorities, she changed it to Ian.

She thought she had solved the problem because no-one could shorten the name … but she was thwarted by Richard, my best friend at primary school, who would insist on calling me “Ee”. I think that, at times, she felt that she could have throttled him.

In answer to one of the questions that I am most often asked here, I have to report that I am single and have never been married and so, no, I am not divorced and no, I have no children – although I do have a number of cats. You can read more about them here.

As I said, I have an older brother, Tony, who is married to Christine and they have two teenage sons, Dominic and Lawrie and live in Hertfordshire.

For the first two and half years of my life when my mother was ill with TB, I had been passed from relative to relative eventually ending up in a children’s home in Stourbridge in North Worcestershire. One of earliest memories is of playing on the swings at the home. Another is of sitting in the backseat of the car my parents had borrowed when they came to fetch me and, looking out of the back window seeing a big bright “Midland Red” bus turn the corner behind us.

Malvern, where I grew and went to school, was a small town of about 30,000 but it was originally a number of villages, (Great Malvern, Malvern Link, North Malvern, West Malvern, Little Malvern, Malvern Wells and a number with names that don’t contain the name Malvern), which grew up around the Malvern Hills.

My father was a postman for all his life, except for the war years when he served as a tank driver, driving a Churchill tank in North Africa and up through Italy. He was also a Trade Union official, serving for many years as the local branch secretary of the Union of Post Office Workers), an example I was to follow later on in life. My mother was a housewife for most of her life, but did spend some time working a shorthand typist and secretary. She was very fond of handicrafts and I think she would have found the traditional crafts of the Kyrgyz very interesting and would have enjoyed making Shyrdaks, Ala Kiyiz, Kurak and Saima embroidery.

I wasn’t a particularly good student at school. In fact I still have my school report where one of my teachers commented: “Ian works well when he can’t avoid it” … and I still wonder why he couldn’t have stuck with the traditionally tried and tested: “Could do better”, but it was at least original and showed that I wasn’t just “one of the crowd”. My schooldays, of course, did much to shape my future career, but there’s more about that here. Anyway, I must have done reasonably well because I ended up with three A-Levels and a place at Teacher Training college and the backdoor into Oxford University and an Oxford degree, and there’s more about that here.

Oxford was an adventure. Up until then I hadn’t traveled much and my horizons were very much limited to Malvern where I had grown up. I had been to the seaside at Weston-Super-Mare, (or Weston-Super-Mud as we called it because when the tide went out, the sea retreated so far that there seemed to be nothing but miles and miles of wet sand), and to Cornwall with the family of my best friend … they later moved there and he still lives there and now runs a number of hotels in the area – so we’re colleagues. Oxford, however, was different … it wasn’t a holiday, just a week or two … I was on my own, and I made the most of it.

I made some good friends in college, and we kept in touch for a while after we finished our course. When it came time for everyone to leave and go make their own way in the world, one of my friends, took my address but said: “I don’t promise to keep in touch … maybe I will, but think how many friends you had at school that you’ve lost touch with – and that was only three or four years ago … people move on, and I don’t like making promises I don’t know if I can keep.” It’s sad, but she was right – and I have always remembered that … especially the bit promises – after all, an Englishman’s word is supposed to be his bond!

After college it was a question of finding a job … and I got thrown in at the deep end. I became the Teacher in Charge of Religious Education in a large school in Thame in rural Oxfordshire. OK … “teacher in charge” … the only teacher of Religious Education, as it happened. Being the only one, however, I couldn’t take every class and there were a couple of people to help me … but basically I was left on my own devices.

It was in Thame that I started to follow my father’s footsteps and joined a union. It wasn’t exactly what you would think of as a Trade Union … or at least what I thought of at that time as a Trade Union. Teaching isn’t exactly a “blue collar”, working class, profession, and the union that I chose was not militant by any means. Some people referred to us conservative, or even “right wing”, but that wasn’t really true. We preferred to call ourselves the “moderate” teachers’ union. Normally, I “don’t do things by halves” and guided by the principles that although “membership has its privileges” it also has its responsibilities, so I found myself taking an active role in Association affairs. After the move to London, this grew year by year and before I know it I was branch secretary, and in the course of the next seventeen years I also took on the roles (at different times) of Branch Treasurer and Chairman as well as a conference delegate and Branch representative, negotiating with employers, local authorities and, on one occasion, a Minister of the Crown. As it happens, this experience taught me an awful lot and helped me a great deal when I came to Kyrgyzstan and I found myself attending meetings (and sometimes arguing) with government officials, Ministers and even Prime Ministers and Presidents and two British princes of the realm. (Yes, two … strange isn’t it, I traveled half way around the world to meet two members of my own Royal Family!)

The Headteacher in Thame had a basic rule of thumb … the first year a teacher worked in the school, especially if they were a probationary teacher like me, (that is they were newly qualified and new to teaching), then they were basically “taking” from the school – gaining experience and additional “on the job training”. Everything is a new experience. During the Second year its a case of “fifty-fifty” … they are still learning, but they are also putting into practice that they learned in the first year. By the time they get to the third year, they are “giving back” to the school. Now, it seemed to me, (and still does), that that’s a bit crude, but there is a lot of truth in it and it makes a lot sense in a school situation where there is a clear annual cycle. Anyway, I did my three years and and then started looking around for the next step in my career.

I applied for a job in London … returning to my “first love”, Mathematics. In fact, I didn’t get it … at the interview we were told that someone else had been appointed, but “it was a close decision and thanks for applying”. So, I got quite a surprise a few days later when I got a phone call saying that the successful applicant had to withdraw and asking if I was still interested in the job. Yes, I was, and so I made another of the big decisions in my life and moved to London.

Having been, nominally at least, my own boss as “Teacher in charge of Religious Education”, I now joined the rank and file as ordinary classroom teacher. I had fewer groups to get to know and was teaching a subject which, even if it wasn’t popular with everyone, was thought to be useful and not just a “necessary chore”, a statutory obligation. I got on well with the classes – although, yes, there were “ups and downs”. I was there for seventeen years. That’s a long time, but although it was seventeen years in one school, I actually had several different jobs during that time. After a few years as a classroom Maths teacher, I took on classes in Statistics and then Computing, IT and vocational courses as well as taking on various administrative roles within the school. There’s more about that here.

I also took on a role as an examiner, (in both Maths and Computing). My first experience of working in the examination system was as a student when I got a holiday job as a “checker” for one of the exam boards. It surprised me how many so-called “intelligent” people couldn’t add up the marks they had awarded a candidate – and as a result this was something I paid great attention to when I eventually became an examiner. Later as a with the Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE), which was the equivalent of a school leaving certificate, and the system involved using class teachers as markers and examiners. When my career moved into computing I applied for several jobs as a assistant examiner in Computing, (without any expectation of success – hey, my degree was in Theology, not computing or any other related subject), and to my surprise and amazement I was accepted – for all of them! Every year, from May until August, I spent many long hours marking scripts and coursework projects, and attending meetings. It was a hard job, carrying great responsibility but it was a great experience which helped me immensely in many different ways. I would strongly recommend it to any teacher as being both rewarding and worthwhile. (There’s more about my experiences here.)

As I said before, I didn’t travel very much when I was young. Now, during those seventeen years I really got the travel bug. I traveled to various places around Britain, visited France two or three times every year and also lots of other places in Europe, (Albania, Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Greece, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Monaco, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Yugoslavia, …). I went to the States four times, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Pakistan, Thailand, China (Hong Kong) and several of the Caribbean islands. I even visited Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan … but little did I know at the time that I would end up living here! I regret that I never made it to Africa or South America (… ever since I studied South America as part A-Level Geography, I have wanted to go to Brazil – especially the Amazon). I always enjoyed visiting new places, seeing the sights and being able to point to something and say to myself, “I remember learning about that in Geography, or History, or … whatever, and now I am seeing it in real life”; meeting new people; trying new food; learning about different cultures. One thing I didn’t really like was sitting on a beach, sunbathing. I was prepared to do it occasionally if my friends on holiday wanted to do so, provided we split the holiday and did some “”exploring” as well. I felt that it was wasting too much valuable time. As the Beatles put it: “Life is very short and there’s no time for …”, well they said (sang) “fussing and fighting, my friend”, but as far as I was concerned it should have been “sitting around idle”. I suppose it was the “Protestant work ethic” which had been instilled in me by this time.

In fact, I like being busy and I kept (keep) myself busy in many ways. I also have an obsessive personality and tend “not to do things by halves”

As well as teaching, examining and my work with the union, another way was my involvement in Rugby. Although I have tried my hand at many sports I have never been a great sportsman. In my schooldays, however, I played Rugby for the school team and the local club. I was never very good at it … I joke that my position was seventeenth man (for those that don’t know – a rugby team consists of fifteen players!). Even when I stopped playing as the result of an injury, I continued to coach one of the school teams and to referee some matches … although I can’t say that I really enjoyed either.

Another thing I undertook was “in-service” training. I am a great believer that education is a lifelong activity. We are always meeting new experiences, and the world is constantly changing with new facts being discovered and new technologies being developed and so we need to prepare ourselves for the challenges of tomorrow … and not rely on what we learned in the dim and distant past. When I went on my first “First Aid” course, for example, we were taught that the way to deal with a nose bleed was to pinch the bridge of the nose and put the patients head back with the nose in the air, but a couple of years later at the refresher course we were told to pinch the bridge of the nose and bend the patient forward with the nose down. As it was explained to us, if the head is back then there is a chance for the blood to flow through the nasal cavity into the mouth and then into the throat … causing all sorts of complications. It wasn’t, however, just a case of keeping up-to-date. I’m a bit like a sponge in learning new things. I loved playing Trivial Pursuits! I once included an obscure fact in a history essay at school and the teacher circled it in red and added a comment “Where did this come from?” I took great pleasure in telling him it was a book that he had told us we all ought to buy. I had done so, and showed him the reference. There was nothing he could say in reply apart from: “You remember the strangest things!” As a result I also took a number of courses which had nothing to do with work and my favourite was “Looking at Paintings” from the Open University. I don’t know if they still offer it … but it was very enlightening in many different respects. Attending courses is something I miss here … but the internet is a great tool and I feel very fortunate in being able to research almost any topic.

The next big decision in my life involved the move to Kyrgyzstan. In fact it wasn’t one decision, it was a series of at least three during the course of just over a year: to come here; to stay and what to do once I had decided to stay.

Tony, a friend whom I had known since my days in Oxford, worked as a lawyer for a large international firm based in London. His first visit to Kyrgyzstan was in the early 1990′s as part of his work – and he fell in love with the country and the people. On his suggestion I came here on holiday in 1994 and although I liked the place I never really thought that much more about it until he told me that he had landed a job here, wanted to open his law firm and needed help to set up the office. Would I come and help him? Yes, OK. I originally came for one year, but things never quite go according to plan and as the year was coming to an end there was still lots to do, so I stayed on to finish the job. I could have gone back home. I had a job waiting for me and staying here meant saying goodbye to that and a career that I had been developing for twenty years. To be honest, however, I was ready for a change and I looked forward to meeting the challenges of starting something new.

Once I decided to stay, and the office was up and running it was a case of “what do I do now?”. We looked at several options and eventually decided that the most perspicacious was Tourism … and so, together with another friend from the UK, we started the Celestial Mountains Tour Company, and two hotels. We would have liked to open more, but, (as I keep saying), things don’t always go according to plan.

As before, I keep myself busy. There’s never a dull moment. If ever I seem to stop and be idle, it’s not because I have nothing to do … it’s because I have so much to do that I don’t know where to start. I am involved in a number of projects here in Kyrgyzstan. I am an active member of the International Business Council (IBC) and the Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators (KATO) – in fact I am the president of the Association, which always raises an eyebrow – an Englishman as the President of a Kyrgyz Association … but then some people say (jokingly) that, after fourteen years here, I am almost half Kyrgyz anyway. (I have actually taken out official “Residence” status but, no, I am not looking to take out Kyrgyz citizenship – to do that I would have to give up my British passport, and I am not keen to do that.) Some people even say I am more enthusiastic about all things Kyrgyz than most of the locals. I have even been thanked by locals for telling them things about Kyrgyzstan that they didn’t know … or for showing them a part of Kyrgyzstan that they haven’t seen before.

So, that’s my story … or, at least, part of my story. There’s obviously a lot of details missing but it should help to give you a feel of who I am, where I am coming from and why I say some of the things I do in these postcards.

Thanks for reading this far …