Winter Tourist Season Officially Opens in East Kazakhstan

The winter tourist season has officially launched in East Kazakhstan. The East Kazakhstan region is fully prepared to welcome winter sports enthusiasts.

Residents and guests of the region took part in the grand opening ceremony, which marks more than just the symbolic start of the ski slopes; it is the creation of a true "winter fairy tale" designed to provide unforgettable impressions and a festive mood for the entire season.

Throughout the day, guests enjoyed skiing and musical performances. The event featured an extensive entertainment program, including prize draws, gifts, certificates, and tastings of local products. The festivities began with a mass descent of participants from the mountain, accompanied by a ceremonial demonstration of the National Flag of Kazakhstan.

Following the opening ceremony, the Akim of East Kazakhstan Region, Nurymbet Saktaganov, congratulated the guests. He noted the strategic importance of developing winter tourism for the region and emphasized that creating comfortable conditions for vacationers remains a top priority. According to the Akim, the region possesses immense potential for active winter recreation, and new projects are attracting an increasing number of tourists.

"In his Address, our President Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev once again emphasized the importance of increasing the industry's competitiveness, noting that the development of tourism and infrastructure must remain a constant priority for state bodies. East Kazakhstan is traditionally among the most attractive destinations for winter holidays. Our unique nature, landscapes, and climatic conditions allow us to develop various types of winter tourism, particularly skiing. The choice of this venue was not accidental. It was here, in the Altai Alps, that the first ski slope was opened on the initiative of our esteemed fellow countryman, Alexander Chilikin. Under the expert guidance of Honored Coaches Viktor Lemeshko and Viktor Reikherd, world-class freestyle and mogul athletes were trained on these slopes. Kazakhstan's fame has been championed by Olympic medalist Yulia Galysheva, as well as international competition winners Dmitriy Reikherd, Pavel Kolmakov, Valeria Tsoy, and Anastasia Gorodko. Today, these slopes gather thousands of active recreation enthusiasts every weekend, including locals and guests from other cities of Kazakhstan, as well as Russia and China," said the head of the region.

Nurymbet Saktaganov also noted that, beyond skiing, tourists are drawn to ice skating on the natural ice of the Sibin Lakes, snowmobiling in Ridder and Altai, and fishing in the Samar, Ulken-Naryn, and Kurchum districts.

"Our task is to make the region comfortable and accessible for active recreation. Services are expanding, and new facilities are emerging. The state supports investor initiatives by providing access to infrastructure and partially reimbursing construction costs. Our plans include the development of ski slopes in the Glubokovsky district, Ridder, and Altai, as well as the construction of tourist facilities in the Katon-Karagay and Markakol districts, and the opening of airports in the Zaysan and Katon-Karagay districts. Today's event symbolizes that tourism in East Kazakhstan is moving forward. We are open to dialogue and support new initiatives. We strive to make our region one of the leaders in winter and mountain tourism in the country. I want to express my sincere gratitude to the entrepreneurs, investors, athletes, and tourism industry employees—everyone who makes our region attractive and recognizable," the Akim added.

Additionally, the Akim presented letters of appreciation to citizens who have made significant contributions to the development of tourism.

For the guests, organizers prepared a rich program including interactive zones, musical acts, a fair, tastings of local manufacturers' products, and an exhibition of traditional crafts. Organizers noted that the winter season promises to be vibrant and full of new experiences.

Irina Klinovitskaya, a resident of Ust-Kamenogorsk, shared her emotions:

"I look forward to the season opening every year. The atmosphere here is incredible—the music, the snow, the delicious food. It immediately creates a holiday mood."

Arman Bekenov, a visitor from Ridder, commented on the quality of the facilities:

"The skiing is excellent; the slopes were prepared very well this year. You can feel the infrastructure developing. I want to keep coming back here."

The opening of the winter season in East Kazakhstan was not just a celebration, but a demonstration of the region's growing tourism potential. East Kazakhstan is confidently strengthening its position as a winter recreation hub, offering residents and guests new opportunities for high-quality and active leisure.

Source: tengrinews.kz