A
world-class mountain resort is set to be developed near Almaty. The government
will cover the costs of building the necessary infrastructure, including
transport. As part of a comprehensive plan to develop the Almaty mountain
cluster, three promising tourist zones have been identified: eastern, central,
and western. The total length of ski trails built to international standards
could reach up to 700 kilometers. In the central zone alone, the number of ski
lifts is expected to triple, increasing daily capacity from 6,000 to 34,000
visitors. Government officials expect the Almaty mountain cluster to become
Central Asia’s largest year-round tourism destination by 2029.
«According to international experts, one dollar invested in
mountain infrastructure attracts two dollars of private investment in resort
infrastructure. This is a huge opportunity for our economic diversification.
I’m confident this project will completely change the economic landscape of not
just the city of Almaty and the region, but the entire country. Design work is
already underway,» said Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.
Tourism currently represents
nearly four percent of Almaty’s economy. Last year, the number of visitors to
the city increased by one-third, making up more than half of all tourists in
Kazakhstan. Accordingly, the city’s budget revenues also doubled, surpassing 90
billion tenge. Along with the influx of travelers, investments in the sector
are growing as well. In just four months, over 40 billion tenge have been
allocated to this industry.
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