Tourism - The Times Of Central Asia

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Gambling

Kazakhstan Weighs Opening Casinos Exclusively for Foreign Citizens

Kazakhstan is considering establishing new gambling zones that would be accessible only to foreign tourists. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports recently conducted a socio-economic study in potential host regions and reported that a significant portion of local residents support the initiative. According to the ministry, international experience suggests that gambling zones restricted to foreign citizens can serve as an additional tool for attracting tourists and developing resort infrastructure, without directly impacting the domestic social environment. The proposed sites for these exclusive casinos include the Mangistau region on the Caspian Sea, the Zhetysu region in southeastern Kazakhstan, and the Almaty region. In Mangistau, 46% of respondents surveyed supported opening casinos for foreign tourists. The ministry estimates that by 2029, the region could receive up to 148,000 foreign visitors, creating approximately 7,000 permanent jobs and generating $2.3 million in annual tax revenue. In the Zhetysu region, 67% of respondents expressed no objection to the development of such casinos. Projections suggest the region could host 36,000 foreign tourists annually by 2029, with around 700 jobs created and $4.7 million in annual tax revenue expected. In the Almaty region, 54.5% of respondents supported the idea. By 2030, the region could attract up to 23,000 foreign tourists per year. According to forecasts, two gambling zones in the region may generate $12.8 million in tax revenue by 2028 and create around 2,000 permanent jobs. The ministry stressed that the establishment and operation of gambling zones will comply with national legislation. Local authorities will determine the exact boundaries, and entry will be restricted to foreign citizens only. Officials also highlighted ongoing national efforts to combat gambling addiction and mitigate social risks. The condition known as “pathological attraction to gambling” is internationally recognized and classified under the ICD code F63.0. In October 2023, Kazakhstan approved a clinical protocol for diagnosing and treating the disorder. Previously, The Times of Central Asia reported that Kazakh authorities are intensifying their crackdown on bloggers promoting online casinos. Measures under consideration include licensing requirements for bloggers and the introduction of criminal penalties, replacing current administrative sanctions.

Tourism

South Korea Sees Surge in Tourist Interest in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is emerging as a leading travel destination in Central Asia for South Korean tourists, with interest surging by 295% from January to October 2025, according to data from the digital tourism platform Agoda. Kazakh Tourism, the national tourism company, said that the data reflects a sharp rise not only in actual visits, measured through accommodation bookings but also in search queries for travel to Kazakhstan. The increased availability of direct flights between the two countries has played a significant role in this growth. Agoda reports that the launch of the Incheon-Almaty route by Eastar Jet boosted interest in Almaty, with search activity jumping by 348%. Shymkent, located in southern Kazakhstan, also saw an 89% rise in interest from South Korean travelers. This increase coincides with the May launch of a direct Incheon-Shymkent flight by SCAT Airlines. Meanwhile, Air Astana has expanded its services with more frequent flights from Seoul to both Almaty and Astana. “We are seeing a clear increase in interest among South Korean travelers in destinations that combine adventure, culture, and authenticity, with Central Asia standing out as a region of growing interest,” said Jay Lee, Agoda’s regional director for North Asia. Interest from South Korea is part of a broader regional trend. Agoda reported a 225% rise in search activity for the four main Central Asian destinations, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, compared to the same period last year. Kazakh Tourism noted that it has been actively promoting the country’s tourism potential in South Korea through B2B meetings and information tours aimed at fostering cooperation between leading tour operators. While Agoda’s figures highlight a significant uptick in online interest, Kazakh Tourism’s own data shows more moderate growth in actual tourist arrivals. From January to September 2025, the number of South Korean visitors to Kazakhstan rose by 25% year-on-year, reaching over 41,300 people. This made South Korea the fifth-largest source of tourists to Kazakhstan, following China (693,000 visitors, up 42%), India (113,000), Turkey (over 103,000), and Germany (more than 81,000). According to the Border Service, Kazakhstan welcomed more than 12.2 million foreign visitors in the first nine months of 2025, 730,000 more than during the same period in 2024. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan has also taken the regional lead in medical tourism this year, surpassing its Eurasian neighbors in growth and infrastructure development.

Tourism

“Winter Begins in Karakol”: Kyrgyzstan Launches Ski Season with Cultural Events

The winter tourist season has officially opened in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan, long considered one of Central Asia’s top destinations for active winter tourism. The city is traditionally the first in the country to open its ski slopes, and this year’s launch was not merely technical, but a full-scale event aimed at boosting both domestic and international tourism. A festive program was held at the ski base, featuring music and dance performances, as well as the launch of the “Jaryk Fest” festival. Local artisans hosted master classes in felt-making, showcasing clothing and souvenir production. This crafts section played an important role in positioning the region as a cultural as well as an adventure destination. [caption id="attachment_40525" align="aligncenter" width="402"] @TCA[/caption] “Jaryk Fest is a celebration of light, snow, and vivid emotions. It’s timed to coincide with the opening of the winter season across Kyrgyzstan. We even have a slogan: ‘Winter begins in Karakol,’” said Ulukbek Almakebek, manager of the Karakol ski resort, in an interview with The Times of Central Asia. According to the organizers, the resort continues to draw tourists from Russia and Kazakhstan, but recent years have seen a notable rise in visitors from Europe and Southeast Asia, a trend that Kyrgyzstan is actively encouraging by expanding its winter tourism offerings. Skiers highlight Karakol’s unique terrain as one of its main attractions. Many of the trails pass through dense coniferous forests, creating picturesque and varied descents not found at other regional resorts. Erdenet Kasymov, director of the Kyrgyzstan Tourism Department, noted that winter tourism is rapidly diversifying. In addition to traditional skiing and hot springs, European tourists are increasingly opting for mountain hiking and horseback riding. [caption id="attachment_40526" align="aligncenter" width="396"] @TCA[/caption] “Tourists from South Korea and India are particularly drawn to snowshoeing in deep snow. It’s a relatively new form of recreation, but one that’s quickly gaining popularity,” Kasymov said. One emerging trend is winter yachting on Issyk-Kul Lake. Because the lake does not freeze in winter, it offers an extended season and opportunities for new types of recreation. Two modern yachts have already been acquired for the region, and work is ongoing to restore older vessels and build docks and piers. This approach aligns with a vision outlined by President Sadyr Japarov, a native of the Issyk-Kul region, who has previously called for moving beyond the traditional separation of “winter” and “summer” tourism. According to Japarov, Kyrgyzstan is building a model of year-round tourism designed to take advantage of the country’s diverse natural offerings.

Tourism

New “Air Gates”: How Two Airports Will Transform Eastern Kazakhstan

The construction of new airports in the Katon-Karagai and Zaisan districts of eastern Kazakhstan is entering its final phase. For these remote region, once accessible only by winding mountain roads, the arrival of runways, terminals, and control towers marks a historic milestone. But these projects are more than just transportation infrastructure. They are poised to become engines of regional development, restoring the area's appeal to both tourists and investors. An Airport in the Mountains Katon-Karagai is the heart of Kazakhstan’s Altai region. Between the villages of Belkaragai and Ornek, a large-scale construction effort is underway to build a modern airport complex. Spanning 266 hectares, the project includes a 2,260 meter runway, a terminal, a command-and-control center, and state-of-the-art navigation and meteorological equipment. According to project manager Nurzhan Eskendirov, 80% of the work is now complete. “Next summer, we will lay the final layer of asphalt. This airport is not just a construction project, it’s a new chapter in the region’s history,” he told TSA. [caption id="attachment_38662" align="aligncenter" width="300"] @gov.kz[/caption] For local residents, the construction has become the event of the decade. Workers from across the country have joined the effort. “The nature here is simply amazing,” said one of the builders, Manash Baigonov. “I want people from all over the world to be able to see it.” Katon-Karagai is renowned for its pristine lakes, snow-covered peaks, and protected nature reserves. The airport will drastically reduce travel time, making the region far more accessible to tourists who previously faced hours of rugged road travel. Zaisan: The Eastern Gateway In the Zaisan district, another major airport project is nearing completion near the village of Satpay. The runway and apron are fully finished, the drainage system is being finalized, and terminal and control tower construction is ongoing. This airport is expected to play a vital role in expanding cross-border tourism and logistics. Currently, Zaisan receives about 20,000 tourists annually, a number that could increase four- to five-fold once the airport opens. Regular flights are planned to Ust-Kamenogorsk, Almaty, and Astana, with future international routes to Urumqi in China and Lake Kanass. This would position Zaisan as Kazakhstan’s “eastern gateway,” linking the country to China not only by road, but also by air. “The airport is creating new routes, but more importantly, it’s creating meaning,” said one of the project’s designers. “It’s not just a runway, it’s the take-off of a region.” [caption id="attachment_38663" align="aligncenter" width="300"] @gov.kz[/caption] From Roads to People Airport development is also driving broader infrastructure upgrades. A new road to the village of Urunkhaika on Lake Markakol, planned in partnership with China’s Heilongjiang Province Bada Road, will connect even more of Altai’s secluded landscapes to the broader transport network. Until now, many of these areas were accessible only by footpaths. These infrastructure projects are transforming not just the regional map, but daily life. In Katon-Karagai, which was once served only by narrow serpentine roads and sporadic buses, officials are now preparing for the arrival of investors, climbers, photographers, and nature lovers....

Tourism

Insider’s View: Cooperation Between Uzbekistan and the United States in Tourism

In recent years, relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the United States of America in the field of tourism have reached a qualitatively new level. The foundation of this cooperation lies in the systematic efforts of the Tourism Committee to implement the provisions of the “Road Maps” aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, expanding tourism exchanges, and attracting American investment into the sector. The period of 2018–2019 became a turning point in enhancing the tourism dialogue between the two countries. Uzbekistan welcomed experts from the International Association of Tourism Professionals, led by H. Luis Lorenzo Gutierrez, representatives of “PBS” and “ABC” television channels, as well as a delegation from the Congress of Bukharian Jews of the USA and Canada. During the same period, the Tourism Committee organized a series of visits by well-known American bloggers Mark Wiens and Sonny Side, thanks to which millions of viewers around the world were introduced to Uzbekistan’s gastronomic and cultural richness. An important step was the introduction of American online booking services — Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, and Tripadvisor. By the end of 2018, 886 hotels across the country had been connected to these platforms, significantly improving Uzbekistan’s accessibility for American travelers. Since 2019, special attention has been paid to promoting Uzbekistan’s tourism potential through U.S. media and digital platforms. Within the framework of the “World Influencers Congress 2019” forum, more than 20 leading American bloggers arrived in Tashkent, including the “Devin Super Tramp” team, which filmed a short movie titled “Aladdin” in Bukhara and Khiva. These projects not only enhanced Uzbekistan’s visibility on global social media but also helped build its image as a safe and welcoming destination. Cooperation in professional training also developed in parallel. Edward Castley, Vice President of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), conducted master classes for university and college instructors, sharing U.S. best practices in training tourism industry professionals. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, an online conference was held with the assistance of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington, D.C., bringing together leading American travel companies — ASTA, Intrepid Travel, G Adventures, and others. The participants discussed measures to restore tourist flows and improve traveler safety. In subsequent years, American media outlets such as The New York Times, National Geographic, and Foreign Policy became increasingly active in covering the country’s tourism potential. Joint media collaborations, including Mystery Box’s 2021 production and CNN’s 2023 documentary The Spirit of Samarkand, have been instrumental in highlighting the cultural heritage and contemporary life of Uzbekistan’s historic cities. In recent years, Uzbekistan–U.S. cooperation in tourism has acquired strategic importance. In 2024, Chairman of the Tourism Committee Umid Shadiev met with U.S. Ambassador Jonathan Henick to discuss prospects for developing green tourism and workforce training. The participation of the Uzbek delegation in prestigious exhibitions — Miami World Travel Expo 2024 and New York Travel and Adventure Show 2025 — opened new opportunities for promoting the country’s tourism brand. Notably, Uzbekistan was recognized as the “Best New Exhibitor” at the New York event. The...

Tourism

Tourism at Kyrgyzstan’s Lake Issyk-Kul Shows Steady Growth

Tourism remains a vital sector of Kyrgyzstan’s economy, contributing significantly to regional development and employment. The Issyk-Kul region continues to serve as the country’s premier tourism hub, anchored by Lake Issyk-Kul, its most popular destination for both domestic and international visitors. According to data from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce and the 2GIS mapping service, tourism activity in the Issyk-Kul region has tripled over the past six years. By the end of August 2025, which marked the close of the summer resort season, the volume of tourist services along the lake’s shores had increased threefold compared to 2019. In 2019, the region hosted 627 hotels and guesthouses. By 2025, that number had grown to 1,833. The highest concentration of accommodations is found in Cholpon-Ata (377), the neighboring village of Bosteri (336), the regional capital Karakol (196), and Balykchy (27). Food service establishments have seen similar growth. The number of cafes and restaurants has nearly tripled from 360 in 2019 to 963 in 2025. Karakol leads with 170 establishments, followed by Cholpon-Ata (157), Bosteri (142), and Balykchy (84). Nationwide, Kyrgyzstan received over 3.7 million tourists in 2024, a 1.3-fold increase compared to 2023, according to the National Statistical Committee. Of these, 2.4 million were served by the organized tourism sector, including hotels and resorts, while 1.3 million stayed in the unorganized sector, such as guesthouses and private homes. The Issyk-Kul region accounted for a substantial share of this total. In 2024, approximately 714,000 visitors were accommodated in the organized sector, and over 1.2 million in the unorganized one. Tourism has become a key driver of small and medium-sized enterprises in the region, generating employment and enhancing the investment climate. In 2024, Kyrgyzstan’s tourism industry attracted more than $11 million in foreign direct investment, with Issyk-Kul playing a central role in that growth.