President Tokayev Announces Plans to Enhance Kazakhstan’s Tourism Industry
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Addresses Weaknesses in Kazakhstan’s Tourism Industry
In a recent meeting with government officials on June 13, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev brought attention to the weaknesses present in Kazakhstan’s tourism industry and proposed strategies to overcome them. The President emphasized that Kazakhstan possesses the necessary resources to develop various forms of tourism, including environmental and business tourism. However, he highlighted that the industry’s contribution to the national economy has decreased from 3.7% to 3.2% over the past four years, which is significantly below the global average.
One of the key priorities outlined by President Tokayev is to enhance the investment attractiveness of Kazakhstan’s tourism sector. He pointed out that Kazakhstan ranks 70th out of 119 countries in terms of the business environment’s development in tourism, according to the World Economic Forum. To address this issue, he stressed the importance of creating transparent and stable conditions to attract investors, digitizing master plans for resort area development, and providing up-to-date information on available land plots to potential investors.
President Tokayev also highlighted the need to improve the country’s transport infrastructure, directing the government to renew the railcar fleet, enhance railway stations, increase the number of comfortable train carriages, and complete highway construction projects. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of expanding the presence of low-cost airlines on popular air routes in Kazakhstan.
Furthermore, President Tokayev declared this year as the Year of Kazakhstan’s Tourism in China and outlined tasks to prepare border settlements for accommodating tourists. He also addressed the engineering infrastructure challenges in tourist areas, emphasizing the necessity of a separate budget program to provide essential services to tourist locations.
In terms of tourism development, President Tokayev criticized the government’s plan to simultaneously develop 20 tourist zones across the country, proposing a more focused approach on promising destinations. He mentioned the mountain cluster in the Almaty Region, beach tourism in Mangystau, and the Shchuchinsk-Burabai resort area as potential global tourism landmarks.
President Tokayev emphasized Almaty’s role as the main center for tourism development in Kazakhstan and called for the government to attract global hotel and restaurant brands to improve infrastructure quality. He also advocated for the revision of Aktau’s master plan and acceleration of development in the Kenderli resort area.
Additionally, President Tokayev highlighted the unique natural, historical, and cultural assets of the Shchuchinsk-Burabai resort area and urged for its expedited infrastructure development. He also emphasized the importance of major international events in Kazakhstan, such as the upcoming fifth World Nomad Games, as opportunities to showcase the country’s traditions, culture, and sporting achievements.
Lastly, President Tokayev underscored the significance of prioritizing environmental concerns in tourism development, stating that it is essential to preserve nature while promoting tourism. He called for dedicated environmental initiatives, such as the Taza (Clean) Kazakhstan campaign, and emphasized the importance of public awareness and responsibility in ensuring the success of these efforts.
