In a significant move to boost its aviation sector and enhance connectivity, Kazakhstan announced its plans to subsidize more than twenty routes. This expansion is aimed at improving access to remote regions and promoting tourism in the country.
The Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs held a meeting on October 7th to discuss initiatives to further develop the country’s tourism, as reported by the Astana Times. The investment and subsidies amount to nearly 6.4 billion tenge (US$13.2 million), which will allocated over the next year to foster tourism.
The goal is to lower ticket prices and encourage more people to explore these areas. “The country prioritizes transport accessibility to resort areas,” said Deputy Chairman of Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, Timur Nakhipbekov, as reported by the Astana Times. “This year the competition for subsidized flights on the Balkhash-Almaty, Balkhash-Astana, Urzhar-Astana, Astana-Usharal routes did not take place, and commercial flights were operated on these routes.”
The initiative has garnered praise from various sectors, including tourism operators and local businesses. Many believe that improved air connectivity will lead to an influx of tourists, boosting local economies that rely heavily on tourism. “Subsidizing flights remains one of the important measures of state support,” said Nakhipbekov.
For next year, five subsidized flights to Turkistan are planned, along with additional commercial flights by FlyArystan. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, preparatory work has already begun for the construction of three new airports in Kazakhstan’s regions. Eight other airports in the country have been modernized, as reported by the Astana Times.
According to the Civil Aviation Committee, the government is also considering steps to increase flights to Mangistau’s regional center, Aktau, from other regional centers. This year, the number of weekly flights to Aktau increased from 115 to 137. In tandem with these developments, the government is also investing in airport infrastructure upgrades to accommodate the expected rise in passenger traffic. Enhancements will include improved baggage handling systems and refurbished passenger terminals.
Travel industry experts suggest that these measures could position Kazakhstan as a more attractive destination for international travelers. As Kazakhstan continues to enhance its air travel options, the country is poised to see not only increased domestic travel but also a potential rise in international visitors, making it a key player in Central Asia’s burgeoning tourism market.
Visa-free travel for 80 countries
In its efforts to further boost tourism, the government introduced at the end of 2024 visa-free travel for travelers from 80 countries. The new policy will not only make trips to Kazakhstan visa-free for 80 states but also means citizens of another 109 countries will now be able to apply for electronic visas, in an easing of the type of bureaucracy that the IATA recently called a “deterrent” to tourists.
The Kazakh tourism industry is a growing market but is currently dominated by domestic travel. Data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports shows that over three million Kazakhs took domestic trips in just the first six months of 2023, up 15% on the previous year. The figure is expected to reach an extraordinary nine million by year end.
Meanwhile, number of foreign visitors to Kazakhstan are also building, having doubled to more than half a million in the first half of the year – a figure anticipated to triple by the end of 2023.
With a firm eye on developing the country’s tourist offer, the country’s PM Alikhan Smailov called for “breakthrough projects in the tourism sector” and pointed to the four billion dollars poured into the sector over the last four years. “More than 400 facilities have been built, and nearly 7,000 permanent jobs have been created,” he said, but pushed for this to go further.
Areas that still need to evolve are the country’s infrastructure and logistical procedures, the amount of accommodation, and service quality, which Smailov suggested was not yet sufficiently “sensitive to complaints and recommendations from tourists.” Such improvement “tasks” are within the remit of the nation’s “Akims”, or local mayors and governors, he said.
State agencies also needed to act to ensure all “local historical monuments, picturesque natural landscapes, and other historical heritage” are “properly integrated into tourism products,” Smailov continued. Improving tourist safety, promoting the country effectively and implementing biometric and digital innovations are all further keys he identified.
