ASTANA – The Kazakhstan International Travel Fair (KITF), the largest tourism forum in Kazakhstan, is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Celebrations will take place from April 22-24 at the Atakent Kazakhstan Centre of Business Cooperation in Almaty, the organisers announced.
Tourism is seen as a priority industry and indicator of sustained economic development everywhere in the world. Kazakhstan also attaches great importance to the development of tourism and considers it a vital industry, which is evidenced by the country’s tourism development plans, which have been laid out until 2020. These plans were approved by the government of Kazakhstan in 2014 and will help prepare the country for EXPO 2017.
Today in Kazakhstan, international tourism is a rapidly expanding economic sector. From 2008 to 2013, the number of tourists, both local and domestic, here increased from 4.3 million to 7.7 million, or by 80 percent.
KITF, as the largest tourism exhibition in the region, provides opportunity to promote the image of Kazakhstan around the world and expand commercial ties. The exhibition also serves to define tourism trends for the coming year.
The anniversary exhibition will include new developments in the tourism industry, informative seminars, training programmes, cost effective solutions and special offers.
Around 500 companies this year from over 40 countries and regions will put on displays. These include the Andalucía (Spain) and Frankfurt (Germany) tourism boards, which will be present for the first time, Travel Daily News reported.
Leading tour operators taking part in KITF 2015 include Travco, Gartour, American Best Getaways, Resort Life Maldives, Look Asia Holidays, Ada Tours, Natalie Tour, Mouzenidis Travel and others.
Sponsors of the KITF 2015 event include the Cornelia hotel chain (the event’s official sponsor) and the Tourism Board of Malaysia representing the partner country.
KITF, being an important marketing tool for presenting new travel packages, is a place to learn about the latest developments in the industry through its specialised business programme.
During the last KITF event, 85 percent of exhibit participants signed contracts and made agreements on site, KITF organisers said.
