Mandatory Tour Operator Insurance Proposed in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Economy and Commerce is pushing for mandatory civil liability insurance for tour operators, aiming to shield the state from the costs of search and rescue missions. A draft resolution is currently open for public discussion.

The proposal stems from incidents like the rescue of Russian mountaineer Natalia Nagovitsyna, where the state bore significant expenses. The ministry believes this insurance will help replenish the tourism sector's budget by transferring some financial risks to insurance companies.

Under the proposed rules, tour operators would be required to secure insurance contracts. The limits of liability would vary based on the complexity of the tourist route. Traditional tourism, such as cultural, beach, or wellness trips, would require a 3 million som limit, while extreme tourism like mountaineering, rafting, skiing, and trekking in remote areas would need a 5 million som limit.

Officials estimate the daily insurance cost per tourist to be around 400-500 som, or 3,000 to 10,000 som for an entire tour. This is expected to increase the overall tour price by only 1-2%. For extreme sports enthusiasts, the mandatory insurance must cover search and rescue expenses for at least three days. Failure to comply will result in tour operators being removed from the state registry and banned from operating.