Ministry of Tourism and Sports: Efforts to Enhance Tourism Capacity
In 2024, Kazakhstan welcomed around 15 million foreign visitors, of whom approximately 1.3 million stayed accommodation facilities such as hotels.
The Kazakh government’s tourism development roadmap projects that by 2030, the number of overnight tourists will exceed 4 million, more than triple the current figure. To achieve this, the plan includes expanding the currently insufficient accommodation facilities and improving transport accessibility.
The Kazakh government has identified an annual shortage of approximately 15,000 skilled professionals in the tourism industry. To address this gap, a presidential decree established the International Tourism Hotel University in Turkistan. The university offers a curriculum composed of over 60% on-site internships to provide practical training. Furthermore, Kazakh Tourism (NTO) has launched and operates an online academy to strengthen the expertise of tourism sector workers, actively supporting professional development across the industry.
The City of Almaty won the ‘Tourism Innovation and Urban Transformation’ prize in an International Forum
The Almaty Tourism Bureau received the Award for Tourism Innovation and Urban Transformation at the Global Tourism Forum held on October 21 in Brussels, Belgium. The award recognizes Almaty as a model of sustainable tourism development and innovative urban planning in Central Asia. The city’s achievements include introducing innovative solutions to improve tourist experiences and developing urban infrastructure with sustainability at its core.
This historical city, located at the foothills of the Ili Alatau mountains, was highly recognized internationally for attracting domestic and foreign tourists through projects such as developing transportation systems and eco-friendly parks, and restoring historical sites, all while preserving the surrounding natural scenery. This, in turn, has enhanced the city’s accessibility and improved the living environment for its residents.
Kazakh Tourism targets Japanese Tourism Market
Kazakh Tourism co-hosted a trip with Air Astana for 10 major Japanese outbound travel agencies to visit sites like Shymbulak Ski Resort, Kolsay Lake, and Charyn Canyon, and also explored Mangystau region’s coastal tourism resources. Furthermore, Kazakh Tourism organized B2B meetings with local inbound travel agencies, actively encouraging the development of diverse Kazakhstan travel packages targeting Japanese tourists.
In September, Kazakhstan actively advanced tourism exchanges with Japan by hosting major B2B travel marts in Osaka and Tokyo. These events were part of preparations for the launch of the first direct flight route to Japan scheduled for next year, aiming to boost bilateral tourism and cooperation.
Meanwhile, from January to September 2025, the number of Japanese tourists visiting Kazakhstan totaled 9,178, representing a 20% increase compared to the same period last year.
Kazakhstan-Thailand Tourism Exchange Expected to Increase
Kazakh Tourism (NTO) expects increased tourism exchange between Kazakhstan and Thailand with the launch of a new direct flight route. Starting December 1, 2025, Thai AirAsia X, Thailand’s largest low-cost carrier, will operate the Bangkok-Almaty route four times weekly. Strengthened collaboration and the visa-waiver agreement allowing a maximum stay of 30 days are anticipated to accelerate growth in Thai tourist arrivals.
As of 2024, more than 5,500 Thai tourists visited Kazakhstan, with more than 4,200 staying overnight visitors.
Kazakhstan-Armenia: Free Entry/Exit with National ID Cards
Citizens of Kazakhstan and Armenia can now travel freely between the two countries using only their national ID cards. Previously, visa-free travel was allowed for up to 30 days, with police registration required thereafter. Now, they can stay for up to 90 days without a visa or registration using their national ID cards. Stays longer than 90 days are possible with a temporary residence permit. This change is expected to significantly increase the number of Kazakhstani visitors to Armenia.
Sourced: KTO (Korean Tourism Organization) Data Lab – Tourism Market Trends in Kazakhstan (October 2025)
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