Hunting in Kyrgyzstan for foreigners is a luxurious and exclusive pleasure. Every season, hunting enthusiasts from around the world travel to the Kyrgyz mountains to take home trophy mountain goats or Marco Polo sheep.
The state budget receives over 100 million soms annually from foreign hunters. However, recent news has raised concerns among hunting businesses. A meeting was held at the president's administration to explore the possibility of creating a state enterprise to manage hunting activities.
Hunting estate owners fear that this initiative may harm the established hunting process for foreigners, who prefer working with private entities rather than state-run ones. They have expressed their concerns in an open letter to President Sadyr Japarov.
The idea of establishing a state enterprise was justified by claims that money paid by foreign hunters goes unnoticed by the state. However, hunting estates are responsible for various expenses throughout the hunting season, and state involvement may not guarantee the same level of service and professionalism.
The Ministry of Environment has been tasked with studying the transfer of all hunting estates to state management. Current legislation does not grant the government the right to open such an organization, as hunting activities are regulated by specific laws.
The future of the hunting industry in Kyrgyzstan remains uncertain, with concerns about the potential impact of state intervention on established businesses and the quality of service provided to foreign hunters. The balance between state involvement and private enterprise is crucial to maintain a sustainable and profitable hunting industry in the country.
