Kyrgyz mayor says UNESCO status hampers recreation at sacred mountain
The mayor of the Osh region in Kyrgyzstan has proposed removing the sacred mountain of Sulaiman-Too from the UNESCO World Heritage List, arguing that strict international preservation rules are hindering local infrastructure development and tourism projects.
Mayor Zhanarbek Akayev voiced his frustration over the bureaucratic hurdles required to build recreational facilities near the landmark, which is one of the southern Kyrgyz city’s two main symbols, in an interview for Exclusive GG. While the local government recently completed a 500mn som ($5.7mn) renovation project along the Ak-Buura river, including new pedestrian zones and cycle paths, similar initiatives near the mountain have been blocked.
Any proposed infrastructure changes in the protected zone must receive approval from both the Ministry of Culture and UNESCO, a process Akayev said typically drags on for months and frequently ends in rejection.
He cited a recently vetoed project as a prime example of these restrictions. A local developer planning the new Sulaiman Park shopping centre wanted to construct a cable car linking the mall directly to the mountain to attract tourists. Despite the city supporting the proposal, UNESCO denied permission because it involved new construction within the protected buffer zone.
Call for modernisation
The mayor argued that international recognition provides no financial benefit while creating excessive obstacles for urban development. He expressed a desire to transform the area surrounding the mountain into a modern recreational space with benches, walking paths and modern infrastructure, similar to mountain resorts in Switzerland.
Akayev confirmed he has already discussed the idea informally with the Minister of Culture and plans to submit an official proposal to withdraw the site from the UNESCO registry in the near future. He acknowledged the need to preserve the mountain’s historical integrity but insisted that controlled development, strictly excluding cafes and fast-food outlets, would ultimately attract more tourists.
Sulaiman-Too was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2009, making it the country’s first globally recognised site. The designation includes a protective buffer zone covering nearly 4,800 hectares, though a government commission began working to optimise these boundaries last autumn.
