 Kazakhstan
attracting place |
The rich history of the Kazakh people, and the
country's virgin, unique wildlife are great attractions
for both domestic and international travellers.
Kazakhstan embraces a variety of natural and geographic
conditions, each region having its own landmarks.
Tourism is the subject of special attention in
Kazakhstan. In 1993, the country became a full
member of the World Tourism Organisation. In the
same year, Kazakhstan adopted a National Programme
of Tourism Development, and in 1997 the State
Programme entitled Revival of the Historical Centres
of the Silk Road, Preservation and Development
of the Cultural Heritage of Turkic Countries,
and Creation of Tourism Infrastructure in 1997-2003.
In 1997, the Tourism Development Strategy up to
2030 was drafted.
But at present, Kazakhstan does not have Ministry
of Tourism. It was changed to Ministry of Transport.
There is the Agency of Tourism and Sport, which
has existed for many years and was part of the
former Ministry of Tourism. It is a government
body that deals with the tourism. Tourism itself
is not very promoted. Kazakhstan Tourism Association
(KTA), which consists of about 20 travel agencies,
tries to promote tourism in Kazakhstan. Private
sector travel agencies work for it self.
"Kazakhstan needs infrastructure. Oil industry
and agriculture are two priorities in the development
of Kazakhstani economy. I think that tourism should
be the third priority,"
the head of Central Asia Tourism Corporation, Mr.
Knobloch said about tourism in Kazakhstan.
"I think that tourism market is waiting for
investments. I think that possibilities of investment
in Kazakhstan tourism are quite interesting. It
is a very big country with wonderful geography.
Kazakhstan has mountains, steppes, around 20 National
parks; however, it does not have proper infrastructure.
There are many possibilities for investments,"
Mr. Knochbloch considers.
The new Tourism Act of June 2001 set out the legal,
economic, social and organisational bases for
tourism as a sector of Kazakhstan's economy. The
key guidelines for state regulation of tourism
aim to provide favourable conditions for the development
of tourism, identify and support priority areas,
and promote Kazakhstan's image as a country which
is attractive to travellers.
Some 430 travel agencies operate in the country;
these employ about 6,000 personnel including 1,500
professional guides, and have contacts with nearly
eighty countries.The biggest among them Centarl
Asia tourism, Yassaui, Gulnar tour, etc.
"We would like to develop tourism centres
at least in big cities; thus making it of incoming
type. Of course it is very difficult to attract
people from the West to come to Kazakhstan because
they do not know much about it. Most people think
that we are still part of Russia. Second, we do
not have resorts that would conform to international
standards and expectations of tourists,"
the
general manager of Rakhat Travel International,
Mrs. Gadjiyeva said.
Kazakhstan offers virtually all kinds of tourist
activities including educational, entertainment,
ethnic, environmental, recreational, children's,
sport, hunting, fishing and horse-riding tourism.
Over 700 tourist itineraries are available, which
cover the whole of the country.
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Kazakhstan
has a big potentials in tourism sphere thanks
to the nature and political stability. "Country
is very hospitable," Mr. Elibol, General
Manager of Okan Intercontinental hotel said. "We
can guarantee secure and safe and comfortable
place. This is because according to the opinion
of people visiting the countries of CIS the security
is a big issue. You can hear a lot of stories
about different places, about Moscow, for example.
Astana I would say is the safest place, even more
safe than London, because I live in London. Country
is very hospitable," he added about Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan
has 372 hotels of various grades. For example,
in Almaty visitors can enjoy full-range service
at the hotels Dostyk, Astana, Ankara, Hyatt Regency
Almaty, Inturist, and others. In Astana, there
are thirty travel companies and twenty-five hotels,
the biggest of which are Okan Intercontinental
Kazakhstan, Comform Otel Astana, Tourist, Yesil,
Zhibek Zoly, and Altyn Dala.
The
prospects of tourism development in Kazakhstan
and the growing demand for qualified specialists
in this area induced the Academy of Tourism and
Sports, the Kazakh State University of World Languages,
the Turan University, and other schools to open
tourism faculties where training is provided in
specialities such as organisation of international
tourism, hotel and restaurant management, guide/trainer
in various tourist activities, and tour guide.
South
Kazakhstan is a land of ancient history and culture,
famous for its medieval mausoleums. The southern
region is home to the Baykonur space centre. In
the vicinity of Almaty there are the famous Medeo
skating complex and the Chimbulak mountain ski
complex. Finally, the region features unique natural
and climatic conditions for recreation, treatment,
hunting and mountaineering.
West Kazakhstan lies between Europe and Asia in
the basins of the Caspian Sea, the Volga and the
Ural. This is the place where the world's second
deepest point, Karagiye (132 metres below sea level)
and the famous chalky rocks are located. West Kazakhstan
has rich areas for hunting, fishing and aquatics.
The landscape and climate of North Kazakhstan are
suitable for car, bicycle, waterway and mountain
travel. Central Kazakhstan features Lake Balkhash,
one of the biggest in the world.
East
Kazakhstan embraces the Altay and its foothills.
The wildlife of the region is extremely abundant
and diverse, and features many rare and endangered
game species, such as argali, roe deer, Siberian
deer, bear, wild goat, grouse, etc., which are
under protection.
In
summer time and during school vacations, children's
tourism sees an upsurge in Kazakhstan. Youngsters
are offered summer camps, excursions, mountain
trips and a variety of entertaining programmes.
In the winter, recreational activities include
skiing, sledging, horse-riding, indoor sports,
discos, cinemas, saunas and swimming pools.
"There is some more affordable area, affordable
hotels, affordable cultural and natural area,
which will keep the things very much so. Since
do you see these mountains? They are gorgeous,
one need to have a proper access, which does not
exist at the moment, unfortunately. Once there
is an access Kazakhstan will become a Switzerland
of the Central Asia," Mr. Umit Eruysal, General
Manager, Regent Almaty hotel considers.
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