Community-Based Tourism (CBT) is an entrepreneurial activity owned and administered by the local community in the tourism sector. In the last two decades, CBT has developed into a mechanism for facilitating sustainable and socially-inclusive tourism activities in many developing and transition economies, including Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz CBT model, with a sustainable approach, has successfully generated economic livelihoods and reduced rural poverty while also protecting the local environment and cultural practices and providing an alternative income and employment for local communities. In this book, we present a collection of 18 narratives bringing forward the message that CBT not only encourages a deeper connection between the host and visitor but also promotes women's empowerment, cultural conservation, social responsibility, and the enhancement of livelihoods.

The speakers of the presentation were: Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Political Science of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Associate Professor Bekzhan Meirbayev, Photographer & Visual Anthropologist of Myriad Film & Research Alexander Parkin-Smith, Head of the Department of Religious Studies and Cultural Studies of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Professor Ainura Kurmanaliyeva, Representative of Atelier Cauchemar Aiman Kulzhanova, research fellows of the Nazarbayev University Research Center for Entrepreneurship (NURCE) Amina Chaya and Assel Abdrakhmanova, also Senior Lecturer of the Department of Religious Studies and Cultural Studies at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and Postdoctoral Fellow at the NURCE Nurlykhan Aljanova.

Professor Bekzhan Meirbayev emphasized the peculiarities of cultural tourism in Kyrgyzstan, the role of nomadic heritage, which is the basis of Kyrgyz culture, and the development of tourism in the CIS countries. Next, visual anthropologist Alexander Parkin-Smith described how women entrepreneurs in Kyrgyzstan are brought centre-stage through photographs and written narratives. Using visual methodologies alongside more conventional social research methods, the women’s stories are made accessible to a broad public audience. Finally, researcher Amina Chaia shared her experience writing narratives, conducting interviews, and contacting respondents.

The visitors received answers to all their questions. The photo exhibition lasted from March 23 to 24, 2023.

Nazarbayev University Research Centre for Entrepreneurship (NURCE), Graduate Business School of Nazarbayev University (NU GSB), Department of Religious and Cultural Studies of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Suleyman Demirel University, Atelier Cauchemar, Myriad Film & Research organized the book launch.

Nurlykhan Aljanova

Senior Lecturer, Department of Religious and Cultural Studies