ASTANA – Tourism officials discussed ways to boost domestic tourism, including promoting nomadic tourism, environmental tourism and working in conjunction with the government, during a Feb. 1 tourism development meeting.
Photo credit: inform.kz
“These two types of tourism (nomadic and environmental tourism) need more support from the state, although they are among the most popular and promising trends in the world. I believe that we need to develop this sphere through the introduction of our national features,” Kazakh Tourist Association director Rashida Shaikenova said at the meeting, inform.kz reports.
“Introduction of amendments and additions to the legislation in the sphere of tourism is the most important task at the moment for the country. The President pointed on the need to create business opportunities for development during his latest address. Given designated tasks, I believe that today we need to work on the tourism law,” Shaikenova stressed.
Marat Igali, director of the Tourism Industry Department spoke about the potential, priorities and constraints of tourism development in Kazakhstan. According to him, only four regions of Kazakhstan have tourism administration.
“The cluster programme of tourism development in Kazakhstan contains six clusters, including Mangistau – Caspian Gates Kenderli, Revival of the Silk Road initiative in the South Kazakhstan region, Free Cultural Zone in Almaty, the Pearl of Altai in the Eastern Kazakhstan, Shchuchinsk-Burabai resort area and Astana – Heart of Eurasia. I want to emphasise that the cluster programme is closely linked with the Cultural Policy Concept of Kazakhstan developed by the Ministry of Culture and Sports,” Igali said.
Minister of Culture and Sports Arystanbek Mukhamediuly, who will take over the responsibilities over promoting tourism from the Ministry for Investment and Development, focused on the need for a balanced approach to the development of tourism in Kazakhstan, improvement of tourist attractiveness in the eyes of foreign and domestic travellers, as well increased training for tourism industry staff.
“It is necessary to amend the Tourism Industry Development Concept of Kazakhstan with the participation of Kazakhstan’s leading specialists and experts in the field of tourism. We need to ensure the government regulation of the industry and support in promoting our country as a tourism destination,” Mukhamediuly concluded.
According to the Jan. 25 presidential decree, the Ministry for Investment and Development of Kazakhstan was reorganised with the transfer of its functions and powers in the field of tourism activities to the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Kazakhstan
