Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Tourism in Kazakhstan –
New Branding Strategy Needed
Kazakhstan, the 9th largest country in the
world, having a rich history of nomadic civiliza-
tions, a large natural diversity and being a part
of the famous Silk Road, still attracts few tour-
ists from around the world. How come?
Challenges
The low number of visitors has clear reasons.
First of all, Kazakhstan has two neighbors that
are promoting their tourism offer quite effec-
tively and have a very distinct brand: Uzbeki-
stan, taking advantage of its rich past with his-
torical and recently renovated Silk Road cities;
and the smaller brother Kyrgyzstan, with the
same nomadic past as Kazakhstan, and with an
abundance of high mountains, lakes and pre-
served nomadic lifestyle. Both countries have
managed to create a clear touristic brand and
attract many foreign visitors. Kazakhstan lacks
this distinct brand, has on offer ‘something of
everything’, which should be translated into a
new brand and a new branding strategy.
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Kazakhstan:
Building the Tourism Infrastructure
Excluding CIS countries*, China, Germany and
Turkey were the leading arrival source countries
in 2010. Currently, the majority of tourists from
non CIS countries visit Kazakhstan for business
purposes, as the country is a large oil, gas and
natural mineral supplier. Business tourists cre-
ate and maintain strong demand for high qual-
ity hotels, which resulted in the development of
a significant number of 4- and 5-star hotels in
the country over the last five years period.
Despite the entrance of large hotel chains to
the country, there still remains a shortage of
more affordable but quality accommodation
such as 3-star hotels. The void created by the
lack of inexpensive and quality hotels in the
country is being filled by rental apartments,
that are especially popular among visitors from
CIS countries.
On the world’s tourism map Kazakhstan, In 2010 Kazakhstan was visited by more than Domestic tourist expenditure
despite its large size, is only a small spot as an 6 million arrivals, which was a 6% increase com- in Kazakhstan
incoming tourism destination. The majority pared to 2009. The neighboring countries – (EUR per capita, retail value)
of the country’s tourism sights and destina- Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan – were the 2005 2010 2015
tions suffer from little awareness, lack of infra- leading source of tourists accounting for more Forecast
structure, limited accommodation availability, than 80% of all arrivals. The majority of trips by Domestic Tourist 12.8 19 32.6
inconsistent service quality and pricing. How- Expenditure
arrivals from these countries were not for tra-
ever, with the country’s rapidly growing eco- Incoming Tourist 34 58.5 112.9
ditional tourism purposes though, but for see- Receipts
nomic power this is starting to change as the
tourism is benefiting from large government ing relatives or friends, to seek employment, ©2011 Euromonitor International
and private investments. and for business purposes.
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Destination Ka za k h s t a n: A nc i e nt a nd P oe t i c
The most popular leisure tourism destina- Kazakhstan’s accessibility for international
tions for visitors are Alakol, Borovoe, Kulsaj visitors is constantly improving as well, as more
and Issyk lakes, Charyn canyon, the mountain- Inbound Tourism in Kazakhstan international air carriers include Kazakhstan
ous landscape of Zailijsky Ala Tau, areas located (‘000 trips) cities in their destination maps. The local air-
2005 2010 2015 ways route map is rapidly expanding and new
on the Kazakhstan portion of the Silk Road
Forecast land border crossings with neighboring coun-
such as the ancient cities of Taraz and Turke-
Arrivals from 3820.6 6131.4 8131.7 tries are planned to be opened.
stan with Ahmed Yasavi's mausoleum, and the
world’s first spaceport at Baikonur. However, Kyrgyzstan 741.7 1648.5 2408.8 The consistent investments in the develop-
the leisure tourism in Kazakhstan is still largely Uzbekistan 1068.9 1701.8 2146.5 ment of all areas of tourism sector indicate
underdeveloped and retains significant future Russia 1332.8 1721.5 2071 that in long term Kazakhstan will be attracting
growth potential. Tajikistan 198.8 297.5 325.6 increasing numbers of international visitors.
China 85.7 182.5 308.1 Over the next five years, the number of incom-
The government tries to boost tourism in a ing visitors in Kazakhstan is expected to grow
variety of ways, such as through passing favor- Other Countries 52.7 130.1 231.2
of Origin by annual rate of 6%, while incoming tourism
able legislation for private investments in tour- receipts are expected to see 9% annual growth.
ism industry, investing in the development Turkey 58 84.1 136.1
of tourism infrastructure and hosting large Germany 84.5 93.1 127.4 * CIS countries – Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan,
international events. Until 2014, Kazakhstan Ukraine 44.5 72.1 97.7 Belarus, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan,
committed to develop tourism infrastructure, Azerbaijan 42.7 39.5 58.1 Georgia, Armenia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mol-
which includes new roads, railways, construc- Turkmenistan 21.1 32.5 41 dova
tion of new and renovation of old accommoda- United Kingdom 19.7 29.1 39.6
tion outlets, near the main recreational zones, USA 25.3 25.5 28.9 By Mantas Kaluina (Euromonitor International’s Senior
World Heritage Sites, as well as other cultural, ©2011 Euromonitor International Research Analyst)
historical and business centers. http://www.euromonitor.com
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Destination Ka za k h s t a n: A nc i e nt a nd P oe t i c
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of the Asian bazaar. Неrе you can experience the opposite the Раnfilov Park. Тhrее types of
true taste of the East. This is not just а market, bath are available at Arasan: Russian, Finnish
but а meeting-place of various Asian cultures in and Turkish. The Russian and Finnish baths
miniature. You can sample the wealth of pro- share the same plunge pool and you can try
duce grown throughout Central Asia as many of both on one ticket. The Finnish bath is dry
the farmers have come from neighboring coun- while the Russian version is a sea of steam.
tries. In the bazaar's open courtyard there are Тhe Turkish bath consists of stone platforms
numerous shashlyk stands, а flea market, flower heated to three different temperatures and а
stalls and а restaurant serving local dishes. The plunge pool. Various kinds of massage are on
fruit and vegetables at the Green Bazaar are of offer.
extremely good value in summer.
Arasan Baths
Almaty's central bath-house is situated in http://www.kimep.kz
а large, impressive dome-shaped building http://tourasia.kz
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Destination Ka za k h s t a n: A nc i e nt a nd P oe t i c
Baikonur’s Firsts
Many historic flights lifted off from Baikonur:
the first operational intercontinental ballistic
missile (ICBM); the first man-made satellite,
Sputnik 1, on October 4, 1957; the first space-
craft to travel close to the Moon, Luna 1, on
January 2, 1959; the first manned orbital flight
by Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961; and the
flight of the first woman in space, Valentina
Tereshkova, in 1963. 14 cosmonauts of 13 other
nations, such as Czechoslovakia, East Germany
and France, started their historic journeys from
here as well under the Interkosmos program. In
1960, a prototype R-16 ICBM exploded before
launch, killing over 100 people.
Wikipedia.org
With the secret out at last, the name Cosmo- unmanned spacecraft. It supports several gen- For several years now it is possible to visit
drome was established and on 12 April 1961 erations of Russian spacecraft: Soyuz, Proton, Baikonur as a tourist and to explore the vast-
Yuryi Gagarin blasted off from here to become Tsyklon, Dnepr, Zenit and Buran. During the ness of the Kazakh steppes around the cos-
the first man to orbit the Earth in his space- temporary lapse of the United States' Space modrome which is a fantastic and memorable
ship "Vostok". The flight lasted for 108 min. By Shuttle program after the Columbia Disaster experience for all adventurous travelers, not
then, the space industry had attracted a great in 2003 it played an essential role in operating only for those interested in the history of space
workforce, so the town of Baikonur, having and resupplying of the International Space Sta- technology. Visitors can walk around the Bai-
grown into a city, was renamed Leninsk and tion (ISS) with Soyuz and Progress spacecraft. konur city, and tour the cosmodrome and its
the rocket site was referred to as Baikonur. At present, Russia has a rent agreement sights. At the world’s oldest and largest cos-
There were not only moments of triumph with Kazakhstan allowing them to use the site modrome the travelers can see all the Russian
though. Prior to Gagarin's first journey to until 2050. It is managed jointly by the Russian rockets, all launching pads, all assembly build-
space, a rocket exploded on the ground, and Federal Space Agency and the Russian Space ing vehicles. Among the most popular land-
over 100 victims perished. After the successful Forces. The shape of the area rented is an marks are the "Proton" launch complex, space
journey in space of the first female cosmonaut ellipse, measuring 90 kilometers east to west, shuttle "Buran", Gagarin's launch site, the test
in June 1963, another rocket explosion took by 85 kilometers north to south, with the cos- complex of the heavy transport rocket "Soyuz",
place, again at the cost of human life. modrome at the centre. memorial house of Yuri Gagarin and visionary
In 1994, Russia re-launched its space pro- Thanks to the Russian space program, the Sergey Korolev, the launch complex "Zenit"
gram at Baikonur. Baikonur is fully equipped city and the cosmodrome are growing and and much more.
with facilities for launching both manned and developing. http://www.orexca.com
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Destination Ka za k h s t a n: A nc i e nt a nd P oe t i c
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famous scientists and philosophers. Turkistan dron was a symbol of unity and hospitality for
was also a center of education: there were the Turks. Therefore, special significance was
large libraries in the city. attached to its size and appearance.
The humanist and preacher Ahmed Yassaui Among historical places, Ordabasy natu- Join My Planet Travel Awards
founded a theological school there. When the ral boundary is particularly interesting. It www.myplanetawards.com
famous Sufi Hoja Ahmed Yassaui read a ser- was recently awarded the status of a Historic
mon in the city Turkistan became quite well Reserve. It is here where formerly scattered Moscow September 2011
known. In his honor a temple was built here – a Kazakh tribes united, transcending all differ-
masterpiece of medieval architecture, mauso- ences, to confront the powerful and danger- International travel awards voted for exclusively
by the Russian public and organised in
leum, consisting of a complex of palaces and ous invader, Dzungaria. Among other famous partnership with Moya Planeta TV, Russia’s
temples. Fine furnishings and interior decora- places around Turkistan are Hanaka, the tomb leading travel and leisure network. The
tions of walls, roofs and ceilings will impress of the Kazakh khans Esimhana, Ablai Khan Awards offer participating companies a unique
opportunity to reach millions of Russian
anyone. Abulhairhana, the burial place of Kazybek, one consumers directly, as well as hundreds of
Even by modern standards, the building of of the founders of the first set of Kazakh laws potential industry partners.
the mausoleum is considered very large (40 "Zhety Zhargy".
meters in height); it has several domes. The Supported by
central dome of the mausoleum, Kazanlak, http://www.visitkazakhstan.kz
unifies more than 35 different rooms. The caul- http://www.natcom.unesco.kz
Media partners
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