Bishkek (24.kg news agency) – Absence of state body on tourism affairs damages image of Kyrgyzstan, members of Kyrgyzstan’s Tour Operators Association stated at today’s press conference.

According to them, the biggest problem of the tourist season 2011 is closed international border crossing points between the Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan. The situation at the checkpoint “Ak Zhol” can be called critical: tourists have to stand in line for 3-4 hours. Closed checkpoint “Karkyra” does not allow travel agents to confirm many of the tours.

Even now, many tour operators are changing the program, excluding Kyrgyzstan because of the complicated process of border crossing, stressed the association.

They recalled that all the posts at the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border are bilateral and citizens of foreign countries can enter the republic only through the “Ak Zhol” and “Chaldovar” checkpoints.