The Image of Central Asia Countries: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan

The Central Asian (CA) countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have been unable to consistently achieve their tourism goals and potentials since their independence (from the Soviet Union) in the 1990s. CA countries have a very small share of the international tourism market. One of the possible reasons for this may be attributed to the nature of "no-image" or "existing poor image" of CA countries in the perceptions of world travelers. The main purpose of this study is to assess the nature of the existing image of CA countries as tourist destinations and also examine respondents' possible travel motives to visit such destinations. A self-administered survey was used to collect data. The findings indicate that the overall perceptions of CA countries center on hospitable environment, authenticity of experience, richness in local attractions, and hospitality and the like. Tourist attributes, effective personal communication channels, the facilitation of tourist movements and experiences are considered significant predictors of the likelihood for respondents to travel to CA countries. This study concludes with appropriate management and policy strategies for potential tourists, tour operators, travel agents, and the four CA countries.