Published
10/19/2025, 09:00A forum entitled “Developing Mayluu-Suu through sustainable tourism” – “Revival of forgotten cities” was held in Mayluu-Suu with the support of the President's Special Representative for the implementation of the Five-Year Action Plan for the Development of Mountain Regions, Dinara Kemelova, a number of state bodies of the Kyrgyz Republic, UNDP and the European Union.
The forum was organized by the Mailuu-Suu City Hall and the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek.
On the first day, a round table was held on the prospects for cooperation between settlements in the country located in close proximity to uranium heritage sites. The round table was attended by representatives of Mayluu-Suu, the settlements of Shekaftar, Min-Kush, Kan, Kyzyl-Zhar, Tuy-Moyun, the OSCE, UNDP, as well as foreign guests from Tajikistan.
The main goal of the tourism forum was to revive Mailuu-Suu by increasing its tourist appeal and developing sustainable tourism as a tool for economic diversification, involving local communities, and improving the environmental reputation of the city, previously known for its uranium facilities.
In her speech at the forum, Dinara Kemelova noted that Mayluu-Suu is becoming a symbol of revival and an example of how to overcome a difficult environmental legacy by creating a sustainable development model.
The Special Representative recalled that the Five-Year Action Plan for Mountain Regions (2023-2027) places particular emphasis on creating new opportunities for residents of mountainous and remote areas in the fields of tourism, ecology, organic production, the creation of geoparks, education, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship.
The event was actively attended by heads of local self-government bodies, as well as representatives of state authorities of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, international organizations, the expert community, tour operators, and entrepreneurs.
The forum became a platform for practical dialogue between the authorities, business, and civil society. Participants discussed the prospects for the development of the economy, infrastructure, tourism, and the preservation of historical and cultural heritage, and proposed creative initiatives.
The forum demonstrated that sustainable tourism can be an effective tool for the revival of small towns and territories previously associated with industrial risks, opening up new opportunities for their socio-economic development.
The forum included an exhibition of works by artisans, products from local entrepreneurs, and products from the Mailuu-Suu Electric Lamp Factory.
At the end of the forum, a resolution was adopted aimed at developing the tourism potential of Mailuu-Suu in the short and medium term until 2030.
