ASTANA (TCA) — Kazakhstan’s tourism industry is tasked to increase its share in GDP up to 8 percent by 2025 and to ensure 100-percent growth of inbound tourism to the country, Deputy Minister of Culture and Sports Askar Batalov said at a press conference on June 27 following the Government meeting that updated the Concept for the development of the country’s tourism industry until 2023, the official website of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan reported.
“As a rule, 95% of tour operators are focused only on outbound tourism. It is necessary that tour operators, together with authorized bodies, determine for themselves Kazakhstan as a place where it is necessary to attract both domestic and incoming tourists. With this in mind, the previous version of the Concept for the development of the tourism industry has been updated,” Batalov said.
At the Government meeting, Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev, taking into account the recommendations of the World Tourism Organization, instructed to take measures for the further development of the tourism industry in Kazakhstan.
The Government will continue to work on the liberalization of visa and migration policies and the development of air services in order to make it as easy as possible for tourists to visit Kazakhstan. To date, the list of visa-free countries for entry into the country has been expanded to 63 countries, and a 72-hour visa-free regime for the citizens of China and the “open skies” regime in the Astana airport operate. At the same time, it is necessary to resolve issues on registration of foreigners in the migration police, the introduction of electronic visas, and diversification of air services.
The Ministry of Culture and Sports will develop an effective model for domestic tourism products marketing, including by creating its own brand and promoting the country’s tourism potential in the international arena.
