Issues of tourism development were considered at the Government session chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. The Minister of Tourism and Sports Yermek Marzhikpayev, as well as heads of a number of regions with high potential for the development of mass tourism and attracting investors were heard on the work carried out to fulfil the instructions of the President, voiced in the Address to the Nation in September last year, El.kz cites primeminister.kz.
At the end of last year, the tourism industry reached a historic high in terms of key indicators. 9.2 million foreign citizens visited Kazakhstan, the number of domestic tourists exceeded 9.6 million people. In accommodation facilities provided services to tourists for 230 billion tenge, the treasury replenished 450 billion tenge of tax revenues. The volume of investment in fixed assets last year increased by 53% and reached 787 billion tenge. This year, following the results of the first quarter, investments in the tourism sector increased 3 times, up to 177 billion tenge.
At the same time, Olzhas Bektenov noted a number of regions where the tourism potential is not fully realised and a decrease in the rate of investment attraction is recorded. These are Atyrau, Karaganda, Pavlodar, Akmola, West Kazakhstan regions and Zhetisu. Akims of the regions have been instructed to comprehensively address infrastructure issues and radically improve the quality of service.
Currently, citizens of 82 countries can visit Kazakhstan without visas, and international flights are operated to 29 countries on 108 routes. But tourists see poorly maintained areas and a lack of basic sanitary facilities. Moreover, low competition in the market contributes to overpricing of services. This does not stimulate representatives of the tourist business to improve their quality. Until such approaches are reversed, outbound tourism will remain more popular. At the same time, the nature and attractions of Kazakhstan provide great opportunities for the development of ecological, cultural, pilgrimage and health tourism in the country.
Also during the Government session the chairman of the board of Atameken NCE Raimbek Batalov and representative of Orient Finance Group Ruslan Shayekin made speeches. Attention was paid to the mechanisms of interaction between the state and business for further development of tourism infrastructure and improvement of service.
Prime Minister emphasised that the state should provide infrastructure in tourist zones and create attractive conditions for investors. But the business, in its turn, should ensure the careful use of the provided tourist areas and quality service at reasonable prices. This also applies to air and railway ticket prices. One of the incentives for tourism development could be the use of small civil aviation.
"The Ministry of Transport needs to review its infrastructure, create conditions to attract potential investors, work out safety issues, and study the experience of both our neighbours and far abroad. Small aviation is highly relevant in the remote natural tourist areas of our country. Such small planes and helicopters do not need concrete strips, but only the most simplified version of infrastructure. This will allow to increase the potential of our natural and historical zones, as well as to form a new pool of tours," the Prime Minister said.
Following the consideration of the issue Olzhas Bektenov gave a number of instructions. In particular, the ministries of transport, tourism and akimats to ensure the completion of infrastructure projects in recreation areas, together with the Fund "Samruk-Kazyna" to increase the number of trains and solve the issue of pricing of air tickets.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports together with regional akimats will have to develop new projects to develop agro-agricultural and eco-tourism. Akimats are also instructed to work out the issue of new destinations and tourist attraction points. Together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry for Emergency Situations to ensure the preparation of tourist facilities for the summer tourist season and take measures to ensure the safety of holidaymakers. The development of tourism will now be under the personal control of regional akims.