Kazakhstan ramps up tourism development

Kazakhstan ramps up tourism development

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.