Postcard from Bishkek

Now I don’t know much Japanese … apart from, that is, a few basic phrases like Konichiwa (Good afternoon) and Sayonara, (Goodbye).  Indeed,  my education in Japanese can be probably be summed as the result of watching Richard Chamberlain in the TV mini-series based on James Clavell’s novel “Shōgun”.  I remember how, having watched an episode, we all came to school and started asking the children, Wakarimaska?, (do you understand), to which they would reply, Wakarimasen, (I don’t understand).

Well, I’ve recently learned a new phrase, and it’s a very unusual one and, to be honest, I can’t see myself using it a lot: Kojo moe.  Apparently it means “factory infatuation” and is being used to describe a form of tourism which is growing in popularity in Japan – “industrial tourism”.

I can imagine most people’s reaction to that: “Industrial tourism!?”, notice the use of the interrobang, “what on earth is that?”

Apparently, according to the BBC, “In Kawasaki, Japan, tourists are flocking to a new kind of attraction: a power plant.”  This is cited as an example of a “growing subculture of people who travel around Japan to see oil refineries, steel manufacturing plants, chemical factories and other such fortresses of industry. They find grandeur and beauty in what many see as unsightly sources of pollution.”  It goes onto to link to a TED talk by Canadian photographer Edward Burtnsky on “manufactured landscapes” and then list a number of eight “fascinating industrial tours”.

Now, Kyrgyzstan does not appear on that list, although we do have a number of sites that could demonstrate how societies run and grow over the course of time – two of the themes which these tourists seem to be enthralled by.

Although Kyrgyzstan does receive tourists from Japan, I am not aware of any groups or tours that could be described as “industrial tourism”.  Most of the Japanese tourists are interested in history and culture, (following in the footsteps of travellers along the Great Silk Road, for example, or visiting the site of the Battle of Talas), or in activity tours, (such as taking part in a cycling marathon).

We’ve never been asked for an “industrial tour” but we have received  requests, for example from Germany and France, where we have been asked if it is possible to include a visit to a French or German investment in Kyrgyzstan.  Once, we received a request asking if it was possible to visit Factory Museums, which were, apparently, quite common in Soviet times.  Most factories operated a museum where they displayed exhibits about the history of the company and plant and its products.  I am not sure, however, how many remain and the closest example I can think of is the small museum in Manas airport, which most people pass by totally unaware that it exists, which is a pity because it is quite interesting.

The National Bank is supposed to have a Numismatic Museum, which is supposed to include exhibits of Ancient banknotes of Kyrgyzstan and other states; Paper banknotes and coins that were in circulation in the territory of Kyrgyzstan; Various securities and other values of a historical and numismatic value; Banknotes of foreign states and other values donated to the Museum of National Bank; Foreign precious metal coins; Commemorative coins of the State Bank of the USSR; Commemorative banknotes and coins of Kyrgyzstan; Souvenir sets of banknotes and coins of national currency; Materials to form a photo and video archive: photos of the National Bank staff and other officials, as well as video and audio cassettes marking the most significant stages in the history of the Bank.  However, every time I try to make enquiries about it I seem to get a “brush off”.

Tourism in Kyrgyzstan has normally been classified into the following categories:

• Recreational tourism – basically sun, sand and sea – well lake – based on Issyk Kul;
• Adventure tourism, (although, personally, I prefer to refer to them as “Activity tourism”)- which covers a wide variety of activities such as mountaineering, trekking, horse riding, canoeing and rafting, cycling, winter sports, (basically skiing and heli-skiing), hang gliding … and others;
• Tours along the Great Silk Road – between the ancient cities of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and the mysterious orient – that is, China;
• Business Tourism – represented by conferences and seminars, and visits by people who are conducting business of one sort or another.

There are some other themes or categories that are sometimes used:

• Cultural Tourism, which concentrates on the traditional nomadic lifestyle and culture of the Kyrgyz;
• Ecotourism, which is problem because no-one really knows what the term means … there are so many different meanings and terms which are sometimes used interchangeably: Environmental Tourism; Ecological Tourism; Responsible Tourism; Sustainable Tourism; to name just a few.
• Hunting, a name which more or less speaks for itself;
• Medial Tourism, centring on the facilities of the numerous Spas and Sanatoria which were established in Soviet times, and I have been asked by one UK based company about the possibility of organizing Dental tours, for patients seeking dental treatment and wanting to combine it with a holiday;
• Educational Tourism, which includes summer schools and conferences, field trips and conducting research, (for example on a scholarship, as well as Internships and Volunteerism during a “gap year”;
• Religious Tourism, pilgrimages to holy sites whether Christian, Muslim or Shaman;
• Specialist tours, for example Botanical or Ornithological tours or Lepidoptery tours – (Lepidoptery is the study of Butterflies);
• Domestic Tourism, providing services for tourists drawn from the local community;

• Elite tourism, (sometimes unattractively called “Trophy Tourism”), where visitors from abroad pay large sums of money and expect particularly high levels of facilities and service, in order to visit interesting and little known or visited locations.  Although, technically, this is possible, it is usually cited as an aspiration – something to be aimed for;
• Military tourism, (believe it or not), involving a round on an obstacle course, riding in military vehicles such as a  tank, helcopter or airplane – and perhaps parachuting from one,  or a speedboat on Lake Issyk Kul.  Basically, this is no-go area for Kyrgyzstan;
• Revolution Tours, building on the experience of hosting two revolutions with just five years.  I am not sure how serious the suggestion was but, although this may be possible, I don’t think there would be much call for it and, anyway, even if someone decided that they wanted to offer such an option, it strikes me as somewhat insensitive and mercenary given the loss of life and suffering that was caused.   Maybe with the passage of time, it will become less of a “hot potato” and, I often answer this particular question with a counter suggestion: I think it might be a feasible option to offer “Soviet Tours”.

Whatever, maybe  I am going to have to give some thought to this new potential market … industrial tourism (?) … I wonder … Hmmmm …  it is certainly food for thought!

 

Tags: Kyrgyzstan, Tourism