ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the influence of historical domestic travel patterns in Kyrgyzstan on modern tourism development, both for the domestic and international markets. In order to accomplish this, the chapter examines the concept of ‘domestic travel’ in two very distinct epochs of a nation's history. In post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan, it is notable that tourism development has been influenced by both pre-communist and Soviet legacies. One tourism site, in particular, retains national importance and has consistently maintained popularity throughout the country's history – Lake Issyk-Kul. This geographical site is used as the basis for an examination of travel and tourism legacies in this chapter. The location of Lake Issyk-Kul is shown in Figure 8.1, where Kyrgyzstan's geographical position in relation to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China may also be seen.
