As part of ongoing efforts of GIZ, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (GIZ) GmbH to explore the intorduction of the Blue Flag Programme at selected sites arround Kyrgyzstan’s world-renowned Issyk-Kul Lake, a high-level delegation from Kyrgyzstan visited Turkiye to gain first-hand insight into the implementation of the programme. The process is carried out under the guidance of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and with the support of the Foundation for Environmental Education in Turkiye (FEE Turkiye), the National Operator of the Blue Flag Programme in Turkiye.
The delegation was represented by public authorities, including the Tourism Development Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and regional and local authorities of Issyk-Kul, followed by representatives of the Kyrgyz Association of Tourism Organizations (KATO) and the Association of Resorts of Kyrgyzstan (AKK), heads and senior representatives of four pilot resorts, and GIZ advisors. The delegation was headed by Mr. Nurgazy Esengeldi uulu, First Deputy Head of the Issyk-Kul District Administration.Throughout the programme, the delegation had the opportunity to observe Blue Flag implementation practices on site and received comprehensive information on beach management, water quality monitoring systems, environmental education activities, waste management practices, marina management and sustainable tourism policies.
As part of the visit, the delegation carried out technical site visits toseveral Blue Flag sites, including Konyaaltı Public Beaches operated by Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, beaches managed by Muratpaşa Municipality and Kemer Municipality, as well as the Lara Public Beach operated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The delegation also examined Blue Flag marinas and tourist boats and received detailed information about their management and operational standards.
As part of the Kyrgyz delegation’s 5-day on-site program to examine best practices, the delegation not only visited award-winning sites but also learned about TÜRÇEV’s relationships with public institutions in the implementation of the Blue Flag Program, its efforts to monitor and coordinate bathing water quality, and its communication and coordination with tourism sector stakeholders and civil society organizations, as well as local initiatives for environmental and biodiversity conservation.
Turkiye, one of the world's leading Blue Flag countries, continues to be internationally recognised for its achievements in environmental management and sustainable tourism. As Kyrgyzstan advances its efforts to bring the Blue Flag Programme to Issyk-Kul Lake, Turkiye’s experience and technical expertise provide a valuable reference for the process.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdulkadir Ateş, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Environmental Education in Turkiye (FEE Turkiye), stated:
"Turkiye, currently ranked third in the world for the number of Blue Flag awards, has developed significant expertise and practical experience that is now being closely followed by our sister countries. During the programme organised in Antalya under the guidance of FEE, the Kyrgyz delegation had the opportunity to benefit from Turkiye’s experience in areas ranging from environmental management and beach operations to sustainable tourism practices and Blue Flag criteria. We attach great importance to the Blue Flag process initiated for Issyk-Kul Lake. Once successfully completed, the Blue Flag to be awarded at Issyk-Kul Lake will not only represent an important achievement for Kyrgyzstan but will also inspire new success stories in the fields of environment, sustainability and tourism across the Turkic world."
The study visit aimed to strengthen knowledge exchange within FEE’s global network and support the expansion of the Blue Flag Programme into new regions. Upon successful completion of the process, selected sites around Issyk-Kul Lake could become among the the first in Central Asia to achieve Blue Flag status, contributing significantly to the advancement of sustainable tourism and environmental standards in the region.
The initiative is regarded as an important step not only for Kyrgyzstan but also for strengthening cooperation on environmental protection, sustainability and responsible tourism across the Turkic world.
