Domestic tourism in Kazakhstan is breaking records. At the end of last year, the number of travelers across the country amounted to 6.9 million. This is a record figure compared to 2019 and 2020. This was stated by Vice Minister of Culture and Sports Yerzhan Yerkinbayev at a meeting on the development of domestic tourism. It is also expected that about 700,000 foreign tourists will visit our country by the end of the year.
“International traffic with 28 countries on 107 routes was resumed, and so was a visa-free regime for citizens of 77 countries. The attendance of national parks increased as well, amounting to 1.5 million people at the end of 2021. The number of visitors to national parks is expected to grow up to 1.6 million by the end of 2022,” Yerzhan Yerkinbayev, Kazakh Vice Minister of Culture and Sports, said.
The relevant Ministry plans to increase investments in the tourism industry up to 708 billion tenge by the end of the year. Currently, more than 31,000 workers are involved in the field of tourism. The state attaches great importance to the development of the tourism industry: support is provided for subsidizing the costs of tour operators for foreign tourists, the cost of a children's air ticket, reimbursement for the purchase of ski equipment and tour buses. NeoNomad campaigns have been launched to stimulate domestic tourists to visit 20 regions of the country and to promote domestic tourism.
Turgensai visit center opens in Ile-Alatau National Park
The number of new visitor centers for tourists in national parks is also increasing. The second one was recently opened in Ile-Alatau. Domestic travelers and foreign guests can get here all the necessary information about the activities of the National Park. There are lecture halls, a souvenir shop, catering facilities and a playground. All conditions have been created for travelers’ comfortable stay. It is planned that such centers will open in the coming days - in the Altyn-Emel and Sharyn national parks.
