The USAID Business Growth Initiative (BGI) would like to invite media representatives to a presentation of its Tourism Destination Management Program, with the participation of representatives of the private sector, sector associations and government authorities.  The presentation will take place on February 25, 2015, at 13:30 pm, in the Jannat Regency Hotel, located at Aaly Tokombaev Street 21/2, Bishkek.

The objective of the event is to describe the Program to interested stakeholders, in which BGI will solicit applications from consortia of tourism organizations, formed voluntarily to develop destination management proposals to enhance tourism locations in Kyrgyzstan.  The BGI team will then establish a partnership with winning consortia based on the creativity and feasibility of ideas, the demonstrated commitment of group members, and the willingness to work together to build more attractive and service-oriented tourist destinations.  Selected groups will receive grant funding and technical assistance to support the implementation of their destination management plans. The plans are expected to generate greater income for local destinations as well as contribute to the development of the Kyrgyz tourism sector as a whole.

At the February 25 event, the USAID BGI Project will describe the application procedures for the submission of proposals.  

Activities and expected results of the USAID BGI Project are the following:  
6. Develop sound partnerships among stakeholders of the tourist market, including hotels, restaurants, attractions, local governments, associations and other NGOs, which will improve tourism experiences and promote tourism in specific geographic locations in Kyrgyzstan;
7. Improve service delivery and the quality of products offered by tourist destinations to significantly increase the number of visitors and revenue for local citizens; 
8. Create, promote and implement initiatives supporting local planning and environmental protection, which contributes to the visual appeal and overall experience of tourism destinations; 
9. Provide support for marketing programs designed specifically to promote tourism destinations among foreign and domestic tourists. 

To obtain additional information about the event, please call 0312 30 07 37.  Over the next two weeks, the BGI Program will conduct similar presentations in all 7 oblasts of the Kyrgyz Republic. Презентации также пройдут во всех 7 областях Кыргызской Республики. The presentation will take place in Osh on March 2 at 2pm at 108a Shakirova St.; in Jalal-Abad on March 3 at 2pm at Tian-Shan Restaurant; in Batken on March 5 at 9:30 am at Bai-Kut Hotel, 1 Aiipova St. 

USAID Business Growth Initiatives Project (BGI) – a four-year, multi-faceted project that builds and strengthens the competitiveness of Kyrgyz firms and value chains to promote business growth, job creation and economic development. To learn more about the USAID BGI Project please visit: http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/fact-sheets/business-growth-initia...