BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, June 24. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide $56 million to Kyrgyzstan to enhance wastewater management and promote sustainable tourism in the Issyk-Kul region, Trend reports.
According to the ADB, the Issyk-Kul region, known for its ecological, cultural, and biological diversity, including the famous Issyk-Kul Lake, attracts numerous tourists. Cholpon-Ata, the primary resort town there, attracts around 80 percent of lake visitors.
Despite its popularity, Cholpon-Ata faces challenges with an outdated wastewater system that serves only half of the population and excludes nearly a third of tourism facilities and resorts.
The ADB funding includes a $25 million concessional loan and a $31 million grant from the Asian Development Fund (ADF). These funds will be utilized to construct climate-resilient infrastructure, including a wastewater treatment plant, pumping stations, and improved sewer systems serving key areas like Cholpon-Ata, encompassing resorts, guesthouses, residential, and business districts. These initiatives aim to safeguard the pristine environment of Issyk-Kul Lake.
Additionally, the project will enhance tourism infrastructure by establishing a museum and a tourism information center, conserving local archaeological sites, creating bike trails and pedestrian paths along the lake's shoreline, upgrading three public parks, and improving access to green spaces.
Local authorities will also benefit from support to develop a climate-resilient tourism master plan for Cholpon-Ata.
Yevgeniy Zhukov, ADB's Director General for Central and West Asia, highlighted the potential of low-carbon tourism supported by environmentally sustainable practices and resilient infrastructure. He emphasized that integrating environmental enhancements and wastewater investments with tourism infrastructure will steer Kyrgyzstan towards a sustainable, low-carbon growth trajectory.
In turn, Massimo Petrone, ADB's Principal Urban Development Specialist, underscored the project's benefits, stating that the climate-resilient wastewater infrastructure in Cholpon-Ata will mitigate drought risks by safely reusing treated wastewater for irrigation. Furthermore, it will manage stormwater overflows during heavy rains, reducing flood risks in the town.