ASTANA – Beginning Aug. 1, Burabai National Park will offer Burabai CityPASS boxes that can save tourists up to 50 percent at local restaurants, hotels and museums and on entrance fees for cultural sites and excursions, said Marat Igaliyev, tourism advisor to the Akmola region Akim (Mayor).
Photo credit: inform.kz.
CityPASS boxes include a tourist card, plastic smart card, guidebook in Kazakh, Russian, and English, CityPASS maps and Beeline sim card with welcome tariff. The CityPASS e-version, which can be ordered online, provides discounts up to 30 percent.
The card system is not new for Kazakhstan, as it has been used by tourists in the capital since last year and introduced in Almaty in April. Igaliyev noted 50,000 Astana CityPASS packages have been sold.
“I found the card very useful and it saved me some money. I have no complaints,” said a capital cardholder.
“Yes, the card works; it saved time and money, which is very good and convenient! My friends also took advantage and are just as happy,” said another user.
Tourists may select any sights they wish to visit. The discount is activated only once for each location and within 30 days of purchase. The available spots include the Burabai visitors centre and excursion programmes with intriguing names such as Burabai – The Pearl of Kazakhstan, Into the Depth of History – Kenessary’s Cave, Baikal Road, Ukili Ybyrai Trail and On a Visit to Nature, as well as museums (nature museum, Abylai Khan Historical and Local History Museums and Kazakh Lapland Museum), Burabai Zoo, Extreme Rope Park, hotels and bicycle, catamaran and scooter rentals.
“In the future, we plan to increase the number of services that can be obtained through Burabai CityPASS,” said Igaliyev.
Introducing a single tourist card is the result of a memorandum of cooperation signed in February by CROCUS, the Akmola region Tourist Information Centre and central tourist operator Kazakhstanskaya Laplandiya.
