Kazakhstan Amplifies Tourist Attraction through Infrastructure Improvements and Advanced Technologies
Kazakhstan's Booming Tourism: A Growing Haven for Green Vacations, MICE, and Shopping Galore
Astana, April 8 - Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov chaired a government meeting to discuss Kazakhstan's ever-growing tourism industry. The sector is evolving in agri-, eco-, business, shopping, and event tourism, following digital innovations.
Nature's Treasures: Eco and Agritourism
Tourism Minister Yerbol Myrzabossynov unveiled plans to grant regional administrations control over developing tourism infrastructure in national parks. In recent years, eight visitor centers have been built, and a trail system is being expanded to boost ecotourism. Roughly 2.8 million people visited 14 national parks in 2024, an increase of 18% compared to 2023.
Farmers will now be allowed to engage in agritourism to kick-start rural development. With over 200,000 farms in the country, this initiative is expected to create jobs and enhance rural living standards.
Tourism that's Greener and Easier
Upcoming revisions to the hotel classification system, unchanged since 2008, will realign with international standards.
A new green corridor system is being trialed at border checkpoints with Russia and Kyrgyzstan to expedite entry for organized tourist groups. To make travel hassle-free, officials proposed simplifying the Neo Nomad Visa application process by making it accessible online through Kazakhstan's visa migration portal.
Shop 'Til You Drop: Expanding Shopping Tourism
Kazakhstan aims to broaden its Tax Free system, which encourages shopping tourism by offering tax refunds to foreign buyers, throughout the country. Since its inception in 2019, the pilot program in Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, and Turkistan has generated sales of over $9.3 million.
To improve the quality of tourism services, a digital platform, E-Guides, has been launched to help tourists find certified local guides more easily.
Popular Destination Updates
In the Schuchinsk-Burabai resort area, plans include building eight observation platforms, enhancing 14 tourist routes, and developing a public beach at Lake Shchuchye, as part of a comprehensive development plan for the region. The area will soon house a Hilton-branded hotel with a water park, villas, a cottage town, and an apart-hotel.
Almaty showcased its growing MICE tourism sector, backed by upcoming attractions like the Almaty Museum of Arts and Tselinny Center for Contemporary Culture. The city also plans to build a world-class ski resort with 150 kilometers of ski trails to attract approximately five million visitors a year. The Mangystau tourist zone is another key project on the horizon.
Inclusive and Accessible Tourism for All
Murat Karatai, head of Pioneer family resort, advocated for expanding inclusive children's resorts, focusing on families, children, safety, and social inclusion. Currently, there are over 300,000 children in Kazakhstan that need special educational support, and he proposed creating a nationwide network of inclusive resorts and a national center to train specialists in family and inclusive tourism.
The Almaty mountain cluster can play a significant role in promoting this model and developing specialized resorts catering to families, children, safety, and social inclusion.
A Dazzling Event Lineup
Malik Khassenov, Astana Concert company producer, discussed several high-profile upcoming events to stimulate event tourism, including the Alem Fest music festival featuring Craig David and American singer-actress Jennifer Lopez's "Up All Night Tour." The festival is expected to attract significant attention, like other major events in 2025, such as the World Congress of Neurosurgical Societies, the International Expert Society Congress, IFLA World Library and Information Congress, and KITF 2025.
[1] Article: Astana to Host 21 International Events in 2025[2] Article: KITF 2025: Central Asia's Premier Tourism Expo[3] Article: Neo Nomad Visa and National Park Reforms to Attract Digital Nomads and Eco-Tourists[4] Article: Systematic International Calendar Integration and Active Marketing to Boost Foreign Delegate Numbers[5] Article: Azerbaijan's Participation Promotes Karabakh and East Zangezur Tourism at KITF 2025
- In the future, eco-tourism in Kazakhstan might be further simplified as the hotel classification system undergoes revisions to align with international standards in 2029.
- As part of the agenda to promote home-and-garden tourism, farmers in Kazakhstan are encouraged to engage in agritourism to boost rural development.
- To attract more organized tourist groups, a green corridor system is being trialed at border checkpoints with Russia and Kyrgyzstan, aiming to expedite entry and provide a hassle-free travel experience.
- Kazakhstan's MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism sector is growing, with the Almaty Museum of Arts and Tselinny Center for Contemporary Culture being among the upcoming attractions.
- The Schuchinsk-Burabai resort area plans to develop a premier shopping tourism destination by building a Hilton-branded hotel with a water park, villas, a cottage town, and an apart-hotel, in addition to offering the Tax Free system.
