BISHKEK, August 7 (Itar-Tass) - The authorities of Kyrgyzstan have taken control of the situation in the Sary-Oi village in the resort Issyk-Kul Region where a conflict between local residents and leadership of tourist facilities broke out on Tuesday, the press service of the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.
“At this stage, a meeting between the local residents and the owners and managers of recreation centres located in Sary-Oi has been held,” the press service said. “As a result, the agreements meeting the interests of the parties have been reached.” In particular, the owners of tourist facilities have allowed the local population to engage in trade in the beach areas of their hotels and holiday homes. “Now there are no prerequisites for tensions in Sary-Oi,” the Interior Ministry stated.
On Tuesday evening, several dozens of young people from the local community started on their own initiative to dismantle metal fences around the Raduga and Karven recreation centres, which caused a skirmish between them and security guards of the resort facilities. According to the eyewitnesses, the people staying at the Raduga and Karven centers “were very scared.” “Some of them expressed the desire to discontinue the holidaying and go home,” the eyewitnesses say.
It is not the first fact of intimidation of tourists in the Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan by local residents this year. A few weeks ago, the guests of the resort Royal Beach Hotel, located in the Chok-Tal settlement, were seriously troubles. The settlement dwellers thought that the hotel owner made unflattering comments about the Kyrgyz Government’s Plenipotentiary Representative in the Issyk-Kul Region Emilbek Kaptagayev. In this connection, a rally was staged near the Royal Beach Hotel, and some rally participants behaved aggressively towards the holidaymakers.
More than 1 million tourists, among which there are many citizens of Russia and Kazakhstan, annually arrive at Lake Issyk-Kul in summer for holidays.