The Kyrgyz Republic is a mountainous country rich in magnificent natural scenery and diverse historical and cultural assets such as the remains of the Silk Roads and nomadic culture. This project aims to realize diverse and sustainable tourism in Chui Region by utilizing both nature and history.
Chui Region is home to three assets that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an -Tianshan Corridor”: Ak Beshim, Burana Tower, and Krasnaya Rechka. Excavations have been ongoing at Ak Beshim since 2016, gradually revealing the state of the ancient city of Suyab. The project is formulating a tourism development master plan for the entire Chui Region and simultaneously implementing several pilot projects. Specifically, the project includes the creation of an archaeological park at Ak Beshim, a pottery experience program at the Burana Tower Museum, strawberry picking at a tourist farm using locally grown strawberries, and home visits and a multi-ethnic festival in the multi-ethnic village of Krasnaya Rechka.
The knowledge and lessons gained from the pilot projects will be reflected in the master plan. The ultimate goal is to establish a system that balances the revitalization of the local economy through tourism with the protection of cultural heritage, building a foundation for the self-sustaining development of the region’s tourism sector. IDCJ is working closely with related organizations and the local community to create attractive tourist routes that link historical heritage and natural resources, and to expand experiential programs in which local residents can actively participate, envisioning a future in which tourism revenues are circulated to promote regional development and protect historical sites.
In Kulon Progo Regency, Special Province of Yogyakarta, which is the target area of this project, the local government has been focusing on strengthening the quantity and quality of primary production and industrial development since 2017. Gadjah Mada University, based in Yogyakarta, is committed to making more effective use of its intellectual property for regional development under the policy of producing high-level human resources and strengthening industries promoted by the Government of Indonesia.
This project supported the promotion of university-industry-government-community collaboration projects at the university’s Field Research Center (FRC). Specifically, through strengthening the functions of the FabLab established in the FRC, the project promoted open innovation initiatives that will contribute to solving social issues and developing industries in the region.
The project provided technical training on digital fabrication knowledge and technology as well as management, supported the procurement of FRC FabLab equipment and prepared the Guidelines for the use of the equipment, supported the design for PoC (Proof of Concept) in FRC FabLab, and strengthened collaboration between Gadjah Mada University and the local community through FabLab.
