The Role of Community-Based Tourism in the Economic and Social Development of Kyrgyzstan's Mountain Regions

Sofia Chumakova

Bakalářská práce

Abstract:

This bachelor thesis examines whether community-based tourism (CBT) contributes to the socio-economic development of Kyrgyzstan’s mountain regions or mainly increases tourism flows without producing broad local benefits. The Chuy region is used as a qualitative case study. The analysis focuses on community-level outcomes rather than on tourism growth alone. The theoretical part is based on the concepts of sustainable development, community participation, and the socio-economic effects of tourism. The practical part combines secondary data with semi-structured interviews with local stakeholders in order to assess how tourism functions in the selected region and how its benefits are distributed. The findings show that tourism in the Chuy region creates real income opportunities for local households through guesthouses, guiding, food services, and roadside sales. But these benefits remain highly seasonal and unevenly distributed. The strongest positions are held by those who control bookings, transport, and access to visitors. The results also indicate that local residents are actively involved in service provision, but their influence on destination management remains limited. Additional constraints are linked to waste, crowding, parking pressure, and weak coordination. It was shown that CBT in the Chuy region has real socio-economic potential, but its contribution remains conditional and fragile. Stronger local participation in tourism management and better retention of tourism income within the region are necessary for more stable and community-oriented development outcomes.

Keywords

Community‐Based Tourism (CBT), Chuy Region, Economic and Social Development, Kyrgyzstan, Mountain Tourism, Rural Tourism, Sustainable Tourism, Community Empowerment, Regional Development, Cultural Preservation

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 18. 3. 2026

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Obhajoba proběhla 20. 5. 2026
• Vedoucí: PhDr. Alena Drebitková Malá, Ph.D.
• Oponent: Jared Daniel Jacques

Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Provozně ekonomická fakulta

Bakalářský studijní program:
Business Administration