Ministry of Tourism and Sports - The Times Of Central Asia

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Tourism

Kazakhstan Expects to Double Influx of Foreign Gambling Tourists

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports expects the number of foreign gambling tourists to double following the planned opening of new casinos in four regions of the country. Gambling tourists are foreign nationals who travel specifically to visit casinos and other gambling establishments. Currently, gambling is legally permitted only in two designated zones: the city of Konaev in the Almaty region and the Shchuchinsk-Burabay resort area in the Akmola Region. These facilities are open to both Kazakh and foreign citizens. The government is considering a significant expansion of the gambling sector’s footprint. Plans are underway to open new casinos that will be accessible exclusively to foreign tourists. Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports Baurzhan Rapikov said the proposed locations for the new facilities include the East Kazakhstan, Almaty, Mangistau, and Zhetysu regions. He added that the expected economic impact includes about 500 jobs per casino, annual tax revenues of $4 million to $8 million, and an increase in gambling tourists from 100,000 to 200,000 per year. In parallel, Kazakhstan is prioritizing the digitalization of its tourism sector. Beginning in February, the ministry will launch the development of a unified digital tourism ecosystem based on the Kazakhstan.Travel platform. The upgraded system will feature an intelligent, AI-powered route planner, online booking tools, and optimal travel date suggestions. A new feature, KazTuristBot, will provide personalized recommendations and 24/7 support for travelers. For businesses, the platform will offer a showcase of tourism products, demand analytics, and digital tools for accessing government support. Authorities will also gain access to real-time data on tourist flows, enabling targeted infrastructure development in high-demand regions. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan emerged in 2025 as one of the fastest-growing destinations in Central Asia for South Korean tourists. Data from the Agoda platform showed a 295% increase in travel interest between January and October.

Sports

Why Kazakhstan Still Isn’t a Sports Power, Despite Massive Investment

Between 2021 and 2024, Kazakhstan more than doubled its public spending on sports from KZT 153 billion (USD 289 million) to KZT 315 billion (USD 594 million). Yet, the country has not achieved a breakthrough in high-performance sports. A new report by the analytical portal Ranking.kz highlights why substantial investments have failed to deliver world-class results. Spending More, Achieving Less An audit by Kazakhstan’s Supreme Audit Chamber revealed declining efficiency in sports sector spending. Over three years, violations totaling KZT 17 billion (USD 32 million) were identified. KZT 13.7 billion (USD 26 million) was categorized as ineffective spending, while KZT 2.8 billion (USD 5.3 million) was lost due to poor planning. Despite numerous strategic documents, the sector still lacks a centralized development strategy. Objectives are often recycled from one policy to the next, with no clear implementation mechanisms or performance evaluations. Funding distribution is also inconsistent. In some cases, more resources go to non-Olympic sports, while Olympic disciplines remain underfunded. Nineteen of the 46 Olympic sports had no training programs, and Kazakhstan failed to send athletes to Olympic qualifiers in five disciplines, despite spending KZT 2 billion (USD 3.8 million) on them. Million-Dollar Bonuses vs. Grassroots Development While efficiency falters, some officials are awarding themselves generous bonuses. Staff at the “Sports Development Directorate” received over KZT 3.5 billion (USD 6.6 million) in bonuses over three years, averaging KZT 7.7 million (USD 14,500) per person annually, or roughly KZT 640,000 (USD 1,200) per month, often exceeding their base salaries. In contrast, funding for grassroots sports has declined. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, in 2023, KZT 121 billion (USD 228 million) was allocated to youth sports schools (DYuSSh). That figure dropped to KZT 91 billion (USD 172 million) in 2024. Payroll funding has been reduced by nearly 25%, and National Schools of Olympic Reserve (RShVSM) experienced cuts of up to 65.9%. Meanwhile, funding for sports boarding schools for gifted children rose by 69.3%, reaching KZT 29.7 billion (USD 56 million). Schools of higher sports mastery and Olympic preparation centers each received KZT 16.7 billion (USD 31.5 million). The Ministry has pledged to introduce a per capita funding system for youth sports schools starting in 2026. This reform aims to improve transparency and better align funding with children's sports preferences. Participation in Decline Despite rising budgets, participation in sports is falling. In 2024, the number of Kazakh citizens engaged in sports dropped by 750,000 to 8.4 million. Of these, 6.9 million attend sports clubs or sections, a 9.8% decrease from the previous year. Olympic sports remain the most popular, with 4.3 million participants, followed by non-Olympic sports (1.8 million) and traditional national sports (667,000). Football leads with over 1.1 million players, followed by volleyball (768,000) and basketball (656,000). Kazakhstan has over 37,500 sports facilities, including 21,800 outdoor grounds and around 10,000 indoor gyms, two-thirds of which are operated by educational institutions. On paper, Kazakhstan appears to be making significant investments in sports. In practice, however, the absence of a coherent...

Sports

Kazakhstan to Host Third Future Games in 2026

Kazakhstan will host the third edition of the international Games of the Future tournament in the summer of 2026, combining traditional sports with their digital counterparts in a unique “phygital” format. The event will take place in Astana from July 18 to August 1, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports Serik Zharasbayev announced at a recent briefing. The Games of the Future is an annual global competition where athletes compete in both physical and digital disciplines, with overall scores determined by performance in both categories. The inaugural tournament was held in Kazan, Russia, in early 2024. The second edition is scheduled for December 2025 in the United Arab Emirates, while Kazakhstan will host the third installment in 2026. Over 1,500 athletes from nearly 100 countries are expected to participate in the event, which will feature 13 phygital disciplines. Competitions will be held at several of Astana’s premier sports venues, including the Qazaqstan Sports Complex, Barys Ice Arena, Saryarka Velodrome, Zhekkpe-Zhek Martial Arts Palace, Alaou Ice Palace, Beeline Arena Tennis Center, and the Inclusive Sports Center. The tournament is being organized by the government of Kazakhstan in partnership with Phygital International, a global organization representing 98 member countries. Diverse Disciplines and Substantial Prize Pool Disciplines confirmed for the 2026 tournament include: Phygital Football (soccer), Phygital Fighting (martial arts), Phygital Basketball, Phygital Dancing, Phygital Hockey, Phygital Shooter (tactical combat), Phygital Battle Royale (multiplayer battles), two MOBA disciplines (team esports games), Phygital Drone Racing, Battle Bots (robot battles), Phygital Boxing, and Cybathletics (competitions involving technology-enhanced athletes). The total prize fund will amount to $10 million. According to Alibek Khasenov, president of Kazsportinvest JSC, “The funds will be distributed among the 13 disciplines, some will receive more, some less. All funding, including organizational costs and prize money, will be provided exclusively through sponsorship.” Khasenov noted that several Kazakhstani companies have already shown interest in sponsoring the event. The first edition of the tournament in Kazan reportedly garnered over 3.5 billion views across digital platforms. Rescheduled Due to Flood Recovery Efforts Originally, Kazakhstan was set to host the second Games of the Future in 2025. However, in the aftermath of unprecedented spring floods in 2024, the government reprioritized spending to address recovery efforts. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, this led to the postponement of several high-cost and image-driven events, including the Future Games, which have now been rescheduled for 2026.

Tourism

Kazakhstan Sees Surge in Tourists from Arab Countries

Kazakhstan experienced a significant rise in tourism from the Arab world in 2024, with a 62% increase in visitors from five Arab countries, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Data from the Border Service indicates that the number of tourists from Oman surged by 80%, exceeding 15,000 visitors. The United Arab Emirates followed closely, with 14,700 tourists, a 40% increase compared to 2023. Saudi Arabia saw a 47% rise, contributing over 9,000 visitors. Meanwhile, tourist arrivals from Qatar increased by 50%, and visitors from Bahrain nearly quadrupled compared to 2022. In a bid to further attract travelers from the Gulf region, Kazakhstan participated in the Arabian Travel Market, held in Dubai from April 28 to May 1. The national stand highlighted major tourist destinations including Almaty, Astana, and the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The country promoted a diverse range of travel offerings, from cultural and culinary routes to scientific and educational tours. Kazakhstan was also among the most sought-after destinations for Arab tourists during the Eid al-Fitr holidays, marking the end of Ramadan. Overall, Kazakhstan continues to solidify its status as a rising international tourism destination. In 2024, the country welcomed 15.3 million visitors, a 66% increase from the previous year. Among them were 655,000 tourists from China, 146,000 from India, 130,000 from Turkey, 92,000 from Germany, and 40,000 from South Korea.