On 9th of September 2020, the PERETO Project conducted its kick-off activity – an introductory seminar. The Project applies a comprehensive approach to sustainable energy and sustainable use of natural resources in the tourism sector of Kyrgyzstan. The activity was attended by the project primary partners as well as those that the project and its outputs are expected to cover, i.e. state bodies, the HoReCa sector (hotels, restaurants, cafes, hostels, guest houses), business associations, green technology suppliers, and universities.
The Project was able to secure a comprehensive support from relevant line state agencies – the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Ministry of Economy of the Kyrgyz Republic whose representatives took active part in the activity.
“Hopefully, this project will prove useful for Kyrgyzstan’s tourism sector. Energy security and direction towards sustainable development are priorities not only for the development of the tourism sector, but also for our country’s entire economy. The Tourism Department reaffirms its willingness to cooperate and support the PERETO Project in all its endeavors,” noted Kyial Kenjematova, Acting Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The Project team talked in a great detail about project objectives, planned activities, and expected results of project activities over the upcoming four years (the project implementation period covers 2020-2024) and about the work already under implementation. In March, the project proceeded with a sociological survey – a survey of the HoReCa sector and consumers to identify their knowledge in environmental protection, energy and resource efficiency, and sustainable consumption and production. Findings of the survey are expected to be presented widely in early 2021.
The information collected in the course of the survey will be used to develop training workshops for representatives of the tourism sector as well as curricula that can then be introduced by the country’s universities. Survey findings will also underlie the development of an electronic guide for consumers on sustainable consumption and environmentally friendly and sound lifestyle adapted for Kyrgyzstan.
The Project also plans to create an online platform with a library of materials on sustainable consumption and production and energy efficiency, to set a network of advisory centers throughout the country and to draft criteria for green certification the HoReCa sector, green finance instruments, etc. “Hopefully, the project will facilitate the access for small and medium enterprises to green financing especially in remote areas and the creation of auspicious conditions for the development of relevant and robust policies at the national level,” noted Nurzat Abdyrasulova, Director of Unison Group. The Project expects that by its completion 300 small and medium enterprises will have been trained, and 50 of them will have received technical assistance in the introduction of green technologies.
Among important components of the project one can single out environmental education and enlightenment of the general public – tourists and local residents – and the introduction of environmentally sensitive behavioral patterns into their daily lives. The Project’s awareness raising campaigns and digital products are expected to cover around 300,000 people in Kyrgyzstan.
The goal of the kick-off seminar was not limited to merely talking about the Project but rather receiving feedback from all stakeholders. The activity participants noted high relevance of the Project and consistency of its goals with needs of the tourism sector of Kyrgyzstan. The activity also helped identify relations with, and connections to, other initiatives and prospective partners.