Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BISHKEK1124
2008-11-04 11:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:  

SNAPSHOT OF A KYRGYZ RESORT TOWN

Tags:  PGOV ECON SOCI KG 
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VZCZCXRO2532
RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHEK #1124 3091100
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041100Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1497
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BISHKEK 001124 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON SOCI KG
SUBJECT: SNAPSHOT OF A KYRGYZ RESORT TOWN

REF: BISHKEK 1094

UNCLAS BISHKEK 001124

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON SOCI KG
SUBJECT: SNAPSHOT OF A KYRGYZ RESORT TOWN

REF: BISHKEK 1094


1. (U) Summary: During a stop in Cholpon Ata, the main
tourist town on Lake Issyk Kul's northern shore, the
Ambassador visited the Ruh Ordo religious park and the local
petroglyphs. Accommodations in the region range from
Soviet-era relics to modern (and pricey) developments, which
attract Kyrgyz and Kazakh tourists during the short summer
season for lakeside vacations. The region suffers from a
more predictable schedule of power outages than in Bishkek.
American actor Mark Dacascos made an appearance in Cholpon
Ata during the Ambassador's stay. End summary.

Parks and Petroglyphs
--------------


2. (U) The Ambassador visited Cholpon Ata, the main tourist
town on Lake Issyk Kul's northern shore, during her October
22-24 visit to Issyk Kul oblast. Cholpon Ata is a small town
of about 8,000 year-round residents that hosts tens of
thousands of mostly Kyrgyz and Kazakh tourists during the
summer season. In addition to the chilly waters of the lake,
Cholpon Ata features two prominent attractions: the Ruh Ordo
religious park and ancient petroglyphs. The Ruh Ordo park
encompasses buildings dedicated to several faiths, including
Islam, Judaism, Eastern Orthodoxy (dedicated by Anastasia
Yeltsin, the late President Boris Yeltsin's wife and graced
with a statue of Boris Yeltsin),Protestantism, and
Catholicism, juxtaposed amongst statues of Greek and Roman
gods, and all located on a large plot of prime lakeside land.
The park neighbors President Bakiyev's lakeside retreat, and
provides a view of Bakiyev's schooner, the Moskva. The
petroglyphs, which are situated above the town, have largely
weathered away and apparently were damaged during a
German-financed preservation project.

Range of Accommodations
--------------


3. (U) From Soviet-era relics to modern bungalows, the
Cholpon Ata area hosts a hodgepodge of accommodations. The
flagship Aurora complex provides a disappointing array of
services and facilities reminiscent of its Soviet heyday,
while more modern and upscale developments such as Karven
Four Seasons offer apartments for sale starting at $200,000.
Despite daily rates of $200-$300 a night in the summer
season, many Kyrgyz and tourists from neighboring countries
find the financial resources to spend several days lakeside.

Lights, Cameras, Phones, Action?
--------------


4. (U) Rolling power cuts are more predictable in the
Cholpon Ata area than in Bishkek. Hotel staff informed the
Ambassador of the power cut schedule, but failed to note that
cell phone service would also be disabled during the power
outage. (Note: Some cell phone providers have used batteries
or generators at their cellular towers during power outages,
but the extended nature of the power cuts has made such
back-up systems extremely costly to maintain. End note.)
While in Cholpon Ata, the Ambassador learned that the Issyk
Kul Film Festival had attracted American actor Mark Dacascos.
Local government officials expressed delight at Dacascos's
presence, who is known here for his appearance in Central
Asian period films.

Comment
--------------


5. (SBU) Issyk Kul oblast officials have told the Ambassador
of their hopes to increase investment in the tourism sector
and attract more "wealthy tourists" (reftel),and Cholpon
Ata, the largest town on Issyk Kul's 200-kilometer northern
shore, will likely be central to those efforts.
GFOELLER