Visits of Chinese Tourists to Kazakhstan Surged in 2024
In 2024, 655,000 Chinese tourists visited Kazakhstan, representing a 78% increase compared to the previous year, Nurtas Karipbayev, chairman of the Tourism Industry Committee at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan, announced at a press conference on February 6. The surge in visitors comes as Kazakhstan declared 2024 the "Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China", an initiative aimed at strengthening cultural and economic ties between the two countries. The program promoted Kazakhstan as a travel destination and facilitated collaborations between tourism industry stakeholders from both nations. As part of the initiative, leading Chinese media and social networks - with a combined audience exceeding 1.3 billion people - broadcast and published content about Kazakhstan, significantly boosting its appeal among Chinese travelers, Karipbayev stated. He noted that Almaty was the most popular destination for Chinese tourists in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan also participated in four major tourism exhibitions in China: ITB China, ITE Hong Kong, COTTM, and the China International Medical Tourism Fair. These events helped establish new partnerships with leading Chinese tour operators. "Throughout the year, various Kazakh cities and regions hosted 10 major presentation tours. These events further heightened interest in Kazakhstan. Participation in tourism exhibitions and the organization of informational tours remain key priorities in our collaboration," Karipbayev said. The increase in tourist flow was further supported by the mutual visa-free travel regime, which took effect in November 2023. Under this arrangement, Kazakh and Chinese citizens can travel visa-free for up to 30 days per visit, with a maximum stay of 90 calendar days within a 180-day period. The agreement covers tourism, medical treatment, business trips, and transit travel. Following the success of 2024, the governments of Kazakhstan and China have designated 2025 as the "Year of China Tourism in Kazakhstan", aiming to further expand travel and cultural exchanges between the two countries.