Postcard from Bishkek

Tourism is a global industry and tourists have a wide choice of possible destinations and there are many factors which affect their choices, for example: the location; landscape; activities; facilities timescale, and, (as an intensively competitive industry), the price.

Among the main factors that they will consider are the issues of safety and security.

Globally, the tourism industry has proved to be surprisingly resilient to the negative effects and consequences of various types of events – at both global and local levels:  financial instability.  In the face of financial difficulties and also in the face of the collapse of certain economies.  Growth continues, as consumers decide to spend more of their disposable income on rest and relaxation.

 

However, the success, or failure, of a tourist destination depends on it being able to provide a safe and secure environment for visitors. 

With some notable exceptions, tourists tend to avoid destinations where they consider that they may be at risk … from natural disasters such as Tsunami, volcano, earthquake, avalanche, landslide and flooding; from health risks such as infectious diseases or unsanitary conditions; from political instability, terrorism or war; from potential “accidents” such as road conditions, poor driving discipline, air traffic or perceived fire risk; from exposure to crime, from robbery to harassment and assault.

In these cases the risk may be considered as “external” but there are other situations where the risk in “internal” – in that the risk is an inherent part of the activity being undertaken:  Mountaineering and skiing, for example, contain inherent dangers.

 

In order to ensure that Kyrgyzstan is successful in attracting potential tourists it is important that we are able to convince them that the issues of safety and security are a priority.

I believe that the Kyrgyz government understands this. In the face of “Black press” reports following the events of 24th March, 2005 and 7th April, 2010, campaigns were conducted in the Kazakh and Russian media designed to try and convince out traditional customer base that the situation in Kyrgyzstan was returning to normal and open for business, ready and eager to welcome guests.

Accidents happen – but according to a recent report on the internet[i], a skier who was involved in a motor accident and suffered injuries including a broken back, broken sternum, and a blown knee, found herself “stuck in a third world country … she waited for help in unbearable pain.” Instead of an ambulance, she was carried by local villagers to a hospital where there was “no running water, no hygiene regulations and no adequate medication for serious injuries.”  She “courageously” refused the “inadequate” medical treatment and waited for a plane to evacuate her “from a dirty, run-down medical center of third world Kyrgyzstan to the safe haven of the rich country of Dubai in one of the most prominent and reliable hospitals in the world.”

We might want to decry the emotive language of the report and question some of the details of the account, (for example, the lack of hygiene regulations), or to stress the professional expertise and dedication of the medical personnel who respond to incidents involving vehicle and aviation crashes.

The damage, however, has been done and no matter how strong a publicity campaign we mount in denial, it is not likely to be successful in persuading potential tourists that should they be unfortunate enough to be involved in a medical emergency that they can rest assured that their needs will be well looked after.

It is not just a question, however, of providing facilities for tourists, (important though they are for the economy of the country); there is a wider issue.  It is important an important issue for the local population as well.  It seems reasonable to consider that providing hospitals with running water and sufficient medical equipment and medication to handle a situation where a driver loses control of his vehicle and “crashing into thick trees that might as well have been a concrete wall”, should be a matter of routine.

Of course, there are cost implications in making this possible, and it has to be admitted that Kyrgyzstan has a budget problem and so may not be able to improve health facilities in regional centers thoughout the country… at least not straight away, but for both the Kyrgyz citizens and foreign tourists alike – it’s an important issue that needs to be addressed.

 

 

Tags: Articles, Tourism