Kazakhstan and China are
expanding tourism cooperation. A new train, set to be launched between the
countries, will run from Xi’an to Almaty through the Khorgos-Altynkol border
crossing, according to the national railway operator. The passenger tourist
train will allow Chinese tourists to explore Almaty’s attractions during its multi-day
stop at the city’s station. Notably, Chinese visitors are increasingly choosing
not only Almaty but also Astana. The number of trips by Chinese tourists to
Kazakhstan surged by 115 percent in just one year after the introduction of a visa-free
regime in 2023. The tourist flow to the country is growing due to its international
openness, as visa-free access is available to citizens of over 80 states. Starting
from May 25, an agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan and Vietnam on
the exemption from visa requirements for holders of national passports will
come into force, allowing citizens to stay up for 30 days from the date of
entry and for a total of 90 days within each six-month period.
