On the back of figures that show a growing tourism sector, officials in Kazakhstan have revealed the steps being taken to regulate and sustain business and ensure its ongoing success.
Domestic tourism reached 10.5 million travellers in 2024, an uptick of nearly a million Tourism Industry Committee data shows. In addition, Kazakhstan welcomed 15.3 million foreign visitors, two thirds of whom stayed in the landlocked central Asian republic for more than 24 hours.
Those foreign visitors spent in excess of $2.6 billion in 2024, with the National Bank reporting an average outlay per tourist from outside the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) between $1,200 and $1,500 per trip, with an average stay of four days.
The market in detail
Of the total, $307 million came from China, the number one external source market which sent 655,000 visitors to Kazakhstan, thanks to eased visa arrangements and improved connectivity. Indian citizens too benefitted from the same and 146,000 of them ventured to Kazakhstan over the year, followed by Türkiye, which sent 130,000 and spent $53 million.
Germany’s 92,000 visitors ranked in fourth place but their spending of $56 million put them second. Germans are mainly drawn by ethno-tourism and cultural landmarks, the Committee said. South Korea rounded out the top five source markets, with 40,000 visitors for whom nature, gastronomy and heritage are important attractions.
Kazakhstan is…VERY NICE! 🤩
— Travel Tomorrow (@TravelTomorrowX) December 12, 2023
📍 Kazakhstan
📸 @TravelTomorrowX @Kazakhstan @MFA_KZ @KazBrussels #Kazakhstan #travel #tourism #explore #destination pic.twitter.com/IjOcoqzyNe
Training, certification and quality assurance for guides, operators and accommodation
Employing over half a million people, the Kazakh travel and tourism sector continues to surge then, but needs careful regulation to maintain the country’s new-found appeal. With that in mind, a dual licensing system is in place for outbound and inbound tour operators—a process that is now fully automated and requires various safeguards including state registration certificates, financial records, proof of financial security, and ownership verification.
What’s more, the nation’s over 400 professional tour guides are all subject to training and are certified in the national electronic registry, whether they operate as independents or employees. One-third of them are Almaty-based.
As well as ensuring the quality and background of guides, the country has “Nice and Very Nice” designations that apply to operators, accommodation providers, and the restaurant sector, helping to boost consumer confidence by approving 220 businesses to date.
Kazakhstan expands visa options for skilled professionals and digital nomads 🇰🇿
— Travel Tomorrow (@TravelTomorrowX) February 12, 2025
📍 Kazakhstan
📸 @TheAstanaTimes #Kazakhstan #visa #DigitalNomad #NeoNomad #workabroad #remotework #tourists #travel #tourism pic.twitter.com/lWnRThc1KZ
Subsidies, safety and eco-credentials
It’s not all regulation and no help however. State subsidies and support programs have been launched to support tourism entrepreneurs who can get up to 10% for renovation projects, up to 25% off tourist buses, and ski resort infrastructure, and monthly income for sanitation facilities. The Development Bank of Kazakhstan and the Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund, also offer preferential loans to the sector and private-public partnerships are helping to relieve constraints created by “poor access roads, limited availability of sanitation and utility services, unstable mobile connectivity, lack of internet and Wi-Fi coverage, and the inability to make cashless payments,” said Kazakh Tourism.
In case guests get into difficulties, the SafeTravel.kz app puts travellers directly in touch with the police, via an SOS function. The app gives advice, provides city maps, official lists of taxi and telecom operators, and links to ambulance, fire, and rescue services.
When it comes to eco-credentials, a new national ecotourism standard has been developed, with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), and the Forestry and Wildlife Committee under the Ministry of Agriculture. Effective on 1 June 2025, it covers energy conservation, biodiversity, and waste management, drawing on international best practice approved by groups such as Travelife and EarthCheck.
Although Kazakhstan is not yet a destination suffering from overtourism, even that phenomenon forms part of authorities’ thinking. Digital monitoring, master planning, and public awareness campaigns are already in place promoting cultural awareness and environmental values.
