Welcome Speech
It’s nice to be asked for an opinion … and as I am fond of saying, I am one of those people who “likes the sound of his own voice”, so being asked to give a speech at a function is a double bonus. Most of the time I get asked to give a talk or presentation to a group of students but sometimes it is an invitation to a more formal occasion.
As it happens, yesterday was the opening day of the Discovery Central Asia Travel Forum here in Bishkek and I was asked to give one of the speeches in the opening session. They told me that it had to be a short speech – about 15 minutes, but as it had to be translated, it would have to be even shorter.
Usually, I am given a theme to talk about … but this time I was given free reign. That was quite a problem … I knew it was for the opening session so it was supposed to be a welcome speech and it was supposed to help to set the scene … so, I set to work:
They told me that there would be interpreters and that, as several other speakers would be giving their presentations in English, I should also give mine in English. In a way that made me happy because, although I am used to giving speeches in Russian, it’s obviously easier for me to work in English … and, I assumed, would probably be easier for the audience as well. As it happens, that was a mistake … I should have worked in Russian. Even if I make lots of mistakes, people usually make allowances and appreciate it when I make the effort to speak in Russian.
What made matters worse was that, as it turned out, after the official opening speech, which was in English and translated a little falteringly by an interpreter, I was to be the third speaker – following Former President Rosa Otunbaeva and the Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, who both spoke in Russian.
When I was called to the podium I asked once, English or Russian?, and was told English. OK, so I started.
I am not sure whether it was my accent, the grandeur of the occasion and the celebrities in the audience, or just inexperience but first one interpreter faltered … and a second jumped up to take his place … then he too faltered and a third stepped up to the microphone … I decided to switch to Russian – only to be told it would be better to stick to English. Once again, I made a mistake … I listened … and continued, in English. As the third interpreter also dried up the Deputy Minister bounded up to the microphone and took over.
Actually, he did very well.
As it happens, although I had prepared a speech, it was not meant to be a script to be recited as an actor recites his lines. I find that no matter how well a speech is prepared … there is always the possibility, (no, make that a probability), that another speaker will say something that means you have to adapt what you want to say.
For example, when I am asked to give a talk to an unknown audience, I usually find it best to introduce myself. Who am I? … and why should anyone consider what I have to say as interesting or important? You never know what the Chairman or Moderator might say in introduction, so this might not actually be needed … but just in case I prepare a couple of sentences which set the scene. In this case:
Briefly: I am English; I have been here for seventeen years; I run a tour company and two hotels; and amongst other things, I am currently the President of the Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators – yes, an Englishman is head of one of the main Kyrgyz tourism associations.
I am often asked to address students about issues to do with business in Kyrgyzstan, (and in particular, of course, tourism), or to foreign businessmen of consultants in order to give an opinion on this or that topic, (tax issues, marketing, investment opportunities and so on). I think that’s mainly because I am able to bring a western viewpoint to bear on a local situation … and that is especially important in the field of tourism where it is vital that those of us who work in the industry understand the client.
Most of that had already been said in the introduction, so all I really had to say was the bit about seventeen years … which led nicely into why was I here in Kyrgyzstan …
Many people ask me how I ended up here in Kyrgyzstan and, to be honest, my answer varies from time to time and depends a lot on how mischievous I am feeling at that particular time. Is it because I failed an examination at the age of 11?, or is it my answer to a mid-life crisis?, the result of a love affair? or that there’s nothing left for me back in the UK?
In a way, all of these are true … at least to a certain extent. Nothing in life is simple and there are several reasons why I accepted the invitation to some here seventeen years ago and, more to the point, why I chose to stay when so many others have chosen to follow their careers and move on … or go back home.
At this point it was clear that there was a problem with the translation … so I tried to keep things simple and missed out on most of the details … but, for the record, this was the outline that I had prepared:
It’s true, for example, that I felt that I was in a rut back in the UK and a year in Kyrgyzstan offered me an interesting challenge. It wasn’t anything connected with tourism but was certainly a challenge … and didn’t go exactly according to plan. Eventually, when the task that I came here to do was completed, I looked around to see if there was something else that provided opportunities. That’s when I became convinced of the tourism potential offered by the region – and Kyrgyzstan in particular.
To be honest, at first there was an element of what I call: “Kyrgyz-where” or “Where-is-is-stan” … Back in the mid 1990’s Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia was still very much an “undiscovered country”, “somewhere new, somewhere different”. Although we aware of names like Tamerlane and Babur, Samarkand and Xanadu, but other names such as Bishkek did not come tripping “rapidly off the tongue”. I would like to be able to say that this is no longer a problem, but even with the impact of Borat, colour revolutions and the like, the land of the Tien Shan is still a Terra Incognita to most people in the West.
Which is a pity because the region offers a Kaleidoscope of landscapes, natural environments, wildlife, history, peoples, culture, traditions and the opportunity to experience much, much more.
There is the landscape – which in Kyrgyzstan means mainly “mountains” (whether dramatic peaks or simply highland pastures) and lakes. Leave an office in the center of London and drive for an hour in any direction and you’ll probably still be within Greater London, but within an hour of leaving central Bishkek you could be walking in an alpine valley.
The landscape offers more than just something to look at … it offers an opportunity to interact with the natural environment … to encounter exotic wildlife … (fauna or flora) … .
Then there’s the historical heritage that links the ancient world of Alexander the Great , the medieval empires of Genghis Khan with the modern periods of the Great Game and the Soviet Union … all bound together by the Great Silk Road which brought together merchants and traders, soldiers and pilgrims, from East and West, North and South.
Basically, there is something here for everyone, whatever their interest. You would probably expect that to be a good thing – but in fact it’s a handicap. The trouble is that we have no USP – Unique selling point – and so our limited efforts and resources are scattered far and wide like shot from a blunderbuss.
Also, when I said “there is something here for everyone” … I should probably have said, “for almost everyone”. To be honest, I have met one couple from Europe who were not interested in the landscape, the natural environment, the history, the people, the culture … they didn’t want to sit and relax, (for example, on a beach), or to do anything energetic like trekking or horse riding. To this day I am not sure why they came … but, to be honest I think it was because they were stamp collectors … stamps in their passports, that is … so, as it happens, even they managed to find something that they wanted.
This couple, however, were very much the exceptions to the general rule … many visitors to the region are enthralled with what they see and experience here … they want to stay longer, or to return, and quite a few do actually resist the temptation to go after new stamps in their passport and do indeed return … again and again.
In my opinion, (IMHO), the biggest task before us is getting them here in the first place … getting their attention and then doing everything we can to encourage them to come to Central Asia – effective and effective marketing – on several different levels; making it easy for tourists to come here, (for example having tourist friendly visa schemes – preferably that cover the region and not just a single country; and encouraging “open skies”, and good efficient, comfortable transport between capital, (or at least major), cities).
Once they are here then we can concentrate on doing all we can to make their stay enjoyable and memorable, (for example by establishing Tourist Information Centers which are exactly that, Central points where information and a variety of services designed to make life easier, invigorating and interesting for the tourist).
In fact, a former British Ambassador once said that most of the Brits in this part of the world are here as the result of a “love affair”. I am not sure that that is entirely true – it’s seems a little oversimplified to me … although I do have to admit that there is probably an element of truth in it. Central Asia does that to people; it is easy to fall in love with the place, with the way of life, the culture, the people, a particular person … and I suppose I am an example of that.
Those of us here already know that there is something appealing and attractive in Central Asia and we want to share it. That’s why an event like this Discovery Travel Forum is something which is both very welcome and long overdue.
All that remains is for me to say: Welcome to Central Asia, Welcome to Kyrgyzstan, Welcome to Bishkek and Welcome to the Discovery Travel Forum. I hope it’s a successful event for you all and that you all manage to get the chance to come back and discover some more.
Bishkek