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Central Asia Tourism

Central Asia Tourism Growth Outpaces Other Regions

Central Asia emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing tourism regions in 2025, with travel and tourism contributing $20.1 billion to the regional economy. According to an analysis based on World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) data, the sector's economic contribution grew by 17.7% during the year, the highest rate among the regions covered. By comparison, tourism GDP grew by 8.7% in Northeast Asia and 7.6% in Southeast Asia. The number of jobs supported by tourism grew by 9.5%, while spending by international visitors increased by 26.4%. Despite this rapid expansion, tourism remains a relatively small part of Central Asia's economy. It accounted for 4.3% of regional GDP in 2025, slightly below its pre-pandemic share of 4.5% in 2019. The slight fall in its share reflects the wider growth of the region's economies. The increase is being driven primarily by travel within Central Asia and from neighboring Russia. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan together accounted for 90% of the region's recorded inbound arrivals in 2025. Uzbekistan's official statistics, for example, show that visits to relatives accounted for most foreign visits recorded for tourism purposes during the first eight months of 2025. Comparisons between countries require caution because governments use different statistical methods, including whether they count border crossings or unique visitors. Uzbekistan remains the regional leader in terms of tourism's importance to the national economy. The sector accounted for 6% of GDP in 2025 and contributed $8.3 billion. Even there, however, tourism is considerably less economically important than in established destinations such as Spain, where WTTC forecast that it would account for almost 16% of GDP in 2025. Kazakhstan has the region's largest tourism economy in absolute terms, contributing $9.3 billion in 2025. Tourism nevertheless represented only 3.2% of the country's GDP, reflecting the larger role of industry and trade. The upward trend has continued into 2026. According to the Bureau of National Statistics, Kazakhstan welcomed three million foreign travelers in the first quarter. Uzbekistan was the largest source, accounting for 1.1 million travelers. Kyrgyzstan and Russia were the next largest sources. Revenue generated by accommodation providers rose by 13.9% compared with the same period a year earlier. WTTC forecasts almost 13% growth in the sector's economic contribution in Kazakhstan in 2026. Tourism in Central Asia is expanding and generating substantially more revenue. However, visitors from neighboring countries and Russia still dominate the regional market, leaving longer-haul tourism to grow from a comparatively low base.

Tourism

Kazakhstan’s Tourism Industry Generated More Than $1.3 Billion in Tax Revenue in 2025

Kazakhstan’s tourism sector generated more than $1.3 billion in tax revenue in 2025, an 18% increase from the previous year, as foreign visitor spending and investment in the industry continued to grow, Tourism and Sports Minister Yerbol Myrzabosynov said. Speaking at a government meeting, Myrzabosynov said foreign tourists spent approximately $2.9 billion in Kazakhstan last year, while investment in the tourism sector rose by 33% to reach $2.74 billion. The figures highlight the growing importance of tourism to Kazakhstan’s economy as authorities seek to diversify sources of growth beyond the country’s traditional resource sectors. Ecotourism was among the fastest-growing segments of the industry. Kazakhstan’s national parks attracted 3.7 million visitors in 2025, up from 2.8 million a year earlier. To manage increasing visitor numbers and protect natural ecosystems, the government updated national ecotourism standards last year and plans further investment in park infrastructure, hiking trails, and tourism routes. Medical tourism has also emerged as a strategic growth area. According to Myrzabosynov, Kazakhstan received approximately 80,000 foreign patients in 2025, benefiting from comparatively affordable healthcare services and growing international recognition of local medical facilities. Ten healthcare institutions in Kazakhstan currently hold Joint Commission International accreditation, and authorities are preparing a roadmap for the development of medical tourism for 2026-2028. Business and conference tourism is another priority sector. The minister said Kazakhstan hosted 13 major international events in 2025, generating approximately $18 million in economic activity. However, he noted that infrastructure limitations continue to constrain growth, particularly in Almaty, the country’s largest commercial center. “Almaty needs a modern international-standard convention and exhibition complex,” Myrzabosynov said, calling for a decision on the project to support further expansion of the meetings and events industry. The government is also seeking to expand tourism linked to the Baikonur Cosmodrome, one of the world’s most historic space launch facilities. Under a recently approved development concept, processing times for permits required by foreign visitors have been reduced to 10 days, making access easier for tour operators and tourists interested in both rocket launches and regular visits to the complex. Visitor numbers to Baikonur increased from 5,200 in 2024 to 7,600 in 2025, according to the ministry. Myrzabosynov said several facilities transferred to Kazakhstan’s control, including Gagarin’s Start, the launch pad used for Yuri Gagarin’s 1961 flight, a fueling and assembly complex, and a dynamic testing facility, have significant tourism potential but require modernization and substantial investment. He also emphasized the importance of developing year-round event tourism at Baikonur to attract visitors between launches and improve use of existing infrastructure. As Kazakhstan expands its tourism offerings, authorities are also looking to develop niche segments of the market. Earlier, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports said it expects the number of foreign gambling tourists visiting the country to double following the opening of new casino facilities in four regions of Kazakhstan.

tourism industry

Kyrgyzstan Earned Almost $1.1 Billion from Tourism in 2025

Kyrgyzstan’s tourism industry continued to expand in 2025, remaining an important contributor to the country’s economic growth. According to the National Statistical Committee, revenue from foreign visitors reached $1.098 billion in 2025, up from $1.016 billion in 2024. Tourism accounted for 3.8% of GDP, compared to 3.6% the previous year. At the same time, Kyrgyz citizens spent $564 million on travel abroad. As of January 1, 2026, the country had 148,100 registered tourism-related businesses. Revenue from passenger transportation serving tourists across all modes of transport totaled nearly 17.3 billion soms (approximately $197 million), compared to 16.9 billion soms in 2024. Kyrgyzstan’s main tourist attractions include Lake Issyk-Kul and its mountain ski resorts, with the largest and most popular located in Karakol. In recent years, more than 95% of foreign tourists have come from neighboring Central Asian countries and Russia. According to the Tourism Development Fund, most visitors arrive from Uzbekistan, followed by Kazakhstan and Russia. At the same time, the number of tourists from Arab and European countries, as well as from China, India, and the United States, has been steadily increasing.

Tourism

The Potential and Problems of Tourism in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan boasts unique natural landscapes that could attract international visitors, and significantly enrich the country's economy. Each year, the government allocates increasing funds to support tourism. However, services and infrastructure in many tourist destinations still remain well below international standards. Undeniable Improvements According to Talgat Gazizov, Chairman of the Board of the national company Kazakh Tourism, more than 1,100 tours to Kazakhstan are currently available on 18 major online platforms across Europe and Asia – a threefold increase compared to 2023. This reflects growing interest among international tour operators. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, authorities are also weighing up the possibility of opening casinos in designated tourist zones, accessible exclusively to foreign citizens. In 2025, Kazakhstan invested nearly $2.5 billion in the development of its tourism sector, a 32% year-on-year increase. The number of tourists staying in accommodation facilities rose by 12%, surpassing 10 million. Kazakhstan also improved its position in the World Economic Forum’s global tourism index, climbing from 66th to 52nd place. The stated goal is to break into the top 50. Currently, 328 tourism investment projects are underway. Notable among them are the Oi-Karagai mountain resort, Hilton and Mandarin Oriental hotel complexes, the Zhibek Zholy entertainment complex, and the Keruen Inn roadside service chain. These projects are expected to create around 10,000 permanent jobs. A Comprehensive Development Plan for the Almaty Mountain Cluster includes expanding ski resorts and integrating them into a unified system. The celebrated Shymbulak ski base and Medeu high-altitude skating rink, both located near Almaty, are among the country’s most distinctive attractions. The plan envisions 30 new cable cars and 161 kilometers of ski slopes, aiming to boost annual tourist numbers from 1.8 million to 5 million. Authorities note that, globally, ski tourists spend seven times more than beach tourists. The Shchuchinsk-Borovskaya (Burabai) resort area is also a development priority. Infrastructure expansion around Lakes Katarkol, Maloye and Bolshoye Chebachye, and Zhukei is intended to ease pressure on Lakes Shchuchye and Borovoye. The number of inbound tourists to Burabai is projected to reach 94,000 by the end of 2029, with 32,500 people employed in the local tourism industry. In western Kazakhstan, development is planned along the Mangistau Peninsula, including Teply beach and Kendirli resorts on the Caspian Sea. Efforts are also underway to improve access to the striking rock formations of Bozhyr and Tamsha, which rival world-famous geological landmarks. Services and Infrastructure Lag Behind Despite progress, serious shortcomings persist, chief among them underdeveloped services. The lack of public toilets in tourist zones and along highways has been repeatedly highlighted. Government data shows that many resort areas in the Akmola, Karaganda, and Pavlodar regions, as well as in the Abai and Zhetysu regions, lack reliable water supply and central sewage systems. The use of well water remains a pressing concern. In the Abai region, some recreation centers are situated dangerously close to water sources. Lake Alakol, a popular summer destination, requires urgent shoreline reinforcement. Similar dredging work is also necessary in Caspian...

Chinese Investment

The Illusion of Chinese Investment in Kazakhstan

Concerns about how Chinese businesses operate abroad — and the challenges already confronting Kazakhstani entrepreneurs — have resurfaced following a recent letter to the prime minister from an association of oil service companies reporting price dumping. Despite these developments, Kazakhstani experts remain hesitant to discuss the negative effects of China’s growing influence in the country’s real economy. Technological Dependence The reluctance is unsurprising. Astana’s official policy seeks broad rapprochement with Beijing, spanning economic, political, and cultural spheres. Given the power imbalance, Kazakhstan avoids public statements that might offend its wealthier partner, particularly in the media, which China monitors closely. As a result, the recent complaint by the PetroCouncil — an oil and gas association representing more than 150 domestic service companies — about dumping by foreign, mainly Chinese, firms has been met with silence from local experts. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, the PetroCouncil warned that foreign firms, particularly from China, have been offering services to major Kazakhstani enterprises at prices 60–70% below market value. This, they argue, is forcing out local businesses, reducing Kazakhstani content, eroding tax revenue and employment, diminishing engineering expertise, and threatening industrial safety. We asked PetroCouncil Managing Director Daniel Zholdybaev why foreign companies have come to dominate Kazakhstan’s oil and gas sector and whether the competence of local personnel or service providers is a factor. According to Zholdybaev, the dominance is rooted in how foreign operators first entered Kazakhstan’s market: by bringing their own technologies. This created long-term dependency not only on their expertise but also on foreign suppliers. “Chevron, for instance, maintains a vetted list of approved suppliers, and wherever the company operates, it only works with those on that list,” Zholdybaev explained. While Kazakhstan continues to develop domestic manufacturing capabilities, local firms are still barred from participating in high-risk operations such as work on wells with extreme pressure or temperature conditions. Zholdybaev noted that Kazakhstan’s three major fields — Tengiz, Karachaganak, and Kashagan — account for 90 percent of oil and gas imports. The operators of these projects are mainly Western companies. Russia, due to international sanctions, plays only a marginal role in procurement despite maintaining a presence in Kazakhstan. However, it is Chinese companies, actively welcomed by the state, that have introduced the issue of price dumping. Chinese firms operating in Kazakhstan’s oil and gas industry maintain closed procurement systems, sourcing goods and services almost exclusively from Chinese suppliers. As a result, Chinese investment brings minimal benefit to Kazakhstan’s economy. Even construction contracts often return to China. Russian observers, typically sensitive to Central Asia’s dealings with China and the United States, have also remained largely silent on this issue. A rare exception was political analyst Yuri Baranchik, who posted a sharply critical comment on his Telegram channel: “This is a clear example of what happens when Chinese companies are allowed full access to the domestic market,” he wrote. “They dump prices to bankrupt local businesses, monopolize the sector, and then dictate terms. Now the Kazakh government must figure...

Tourism

Switzerland to Help Tajikistan Promote Tourism Globally

A meeting in Geneva has set the stage for closer cooperation between Tajikistan and leading Swiss tourism organizations to promote its tourism potential internationally. Expanding Tajikistan’s global presence Deputy Chairman of the Tajik Tourism Development Committee Ziyodullo Salimzoda and Tajik Ambassador to Switzerland Sharaf Sheralizoda held talks with Geneva Tourism Office Director General Adrien Genier, as well as executives from Swiss companies Trade Wings Voyages and Executive Travel. Discussions focused on increasing Tajikistan’s visibility in the global tourism market. Proposals included organizing presentations of Tajik tourist routes in Switzerland, launching advertising campaigns, and participating in specialized international tourism events. Tourism as an economic driver Both sides emphasized the importance of attracting foreign investment to modernize tourism infrastructure, develop the hotel sector, and create jobs. “Tajikistan is known for its unique nature and hospitality, as well as the legendary Pamir Highway, one of the highest and most picturesque roads in the world,” noted Primus Publishing, a Swiss media outlet specializing in travel content. Officials expressed confidence that cooperation with Swiss partners will help increase foreign traveler interest in Tajikistan and strengthen bilateral economic ties. Partners with global expertise Trade Wings Voyages is a well established Swiss travel company offering premium business and leisure services worldwide. Executive Travel, based in Geneva, specializes in customized itineraries and full-service travel arrangements. Both companies have signaled their readiness to include Tajikistan in their travel programs and promote it across the European market. Following the meeting, participants agreed to pursue long-term initiatives, including cultural exchanges and joint promotional campaigns. This partnership could mark a shift from isolated marketing efforts to a coordinated, sustained promotion of Tajikistan as a distinctive destination for international travelers.