The tourism industry is rapidly developing in Kyrgyzstan, notably even in the most remote corners of the country. Jailoo-tourism, a new term in Kyrgyz Republic, is becoming increasingly popular. “Jailoo” means summer pasture in Kyrgyz and is used to refer to the high-altitude summer pastures that Kyrgyz nomads take their flocks to. Travelers have adapted this coin a new phrase, jailoo-tourism, an escape to to the hard-to-reach places that are often off-the-grid. These destinations are often inhabited by indigenous people, where the benefits of modern society (electricity, Internet, mobile communications, etc.) are practically absent.
Kyrgyz-Alai yurt camp is located in the picturesque meadow of Tulpar-Kul, in the village of Sary-Mogol, Alai district, Osh region, at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters above sea level. The jailoo itself is located near the high-altitude lake Tulpar-Kul, which is a favorite place for adventure tourists and climbers who come to the Alai Valley to conquer one of the highest peaks of the Pamir-Alay mountain range – Lenin Peak (7,134m).
Zuura Ibraimova, who is 35 years old is one of these jailoo business owners, always ready to welcome tourists as the owner of the Kyrgyz-Alai yurt camp. Zuura opened a comprehensive jailoo recreation center, including overnight stay options, three years ago. Now, the former teacher, who has mastered the skills of entrepreneurship, is actively developing small-scale tourism.
The working day for Zuura starts at 5 am. She prepares breakfast for tourists and warms up the yurts. The camp has all the trappings for a comfortable stay. Zuura hosts tourists according to national traditions.
With the increasing demand, Zuura was keen to expand her business. To this end, Zuura applied for the entrepreneurship training under the USAID’s Local Impact Project supported by the Aga Khan Foundation. Zuura gained practical skills on how to manage and expand her business under the training. As a result of successful pitching her business idea at the end of the training, Zuura secured funding for two additional yurts. With this it is expected that she will have more tourists visting her yurt camp, which will raise her income. Zuura is confident that Kyrgyz women can easily engage in entrepreneurial activities, and she is setting the example in her community.
“About 25 private entrepreneurs from our Alai district took part in the project. As a result of pitching at the end of the training, I was granted two yurts. The training included the development of a business plan and canvas modeling. For me, the most important goal of participating in this project was the knowledge that I received. I actively apply the methods we learned about during the training in my work. And they are bringing about positive results already. My business is developing well; now there are already seven yurts in our yurt camp. We work closely with foreign partners, too. My secret to success is simple - hard work, clear goals and constant, continual learning and self-development," Zuura shared.
The Local Impact: A Transformative Partnership in Asia and Africa project is implemented by the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network and is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF). The innovative framework puts local communities at the center of development for meaningful, sustained impact. To learn more about Local Impact, please visit: https://www.akfusa.org/local-impact/.