On the instructions of the regional Akim, a Master Plan for the Development of the Tourism Economy for 2026–2035 has been developed in the East Kazakhstan Region. The document outlines the creation of a year-round tourism offering, the development of six key territories, investment attraction, and solutions to systemic industry challenges.
In 2025, nearly 447,000 tourists were officially registered in the region—a 4.4% increase compared to the previous year. However, about 96% of this flow consists of domestic travelers, and the peak tourist season is largely limited to the period from June to October.
At the same time, the region already operates 429 accommodation facilities with a total capacity of 6,205 rooms. Another key objective is not merely to increase the number of hotels and recreation centers, but to ensure their steady occupancy and create conditions that encourage tourists to stay longer and spend more in the region.
The Master Plan identifies six complementary tourism territories: Katon-Karagay, Ridder, the Bukhtarma Reservoir, Markakol-Zaysan, Ulken Naryn, and Oskemen with its suburbs. Each has its own specialization—ranging from mountain, wellness, and water tourism to business, industrial, and rural tourism.
From Individual Landmarks to Ready-Made Tourism Products
One of the core principles of the Master Plan is to offer tourists not just a scenic location, but a fully organized trip complete with transportation, accommodation, dining, guided tours, safety, and booking capabilities.
Specifically, promising areas include yachting tourism, mountain biking and downhill riding, boatels, retreat centers, trails for cyclists, skiers, and runners, business and industrial tourism, ornithology, gastronomic tours featuring local wild plants, as well as immersive experiences into traditional Kazakh family life.
Special attention is given to developing offerings outside the peak summer season. The region has all the necessary potential for this: hosting sports competitions and training camps, business events, themed festivals, wellness programs, and advancing agritourism.
New projects are already underway.
In Ridder, a draft program for ornithological tourism—Ridder BirdFest—has been developed. The festival is planned to take place after the main tourist season ends, helping to attract an additional flow of visitors during the shoulder season.
In Katon-Karagay, a snow leopard observation project is being explored. Negotiations have been held with a major international tour operator, and terms of reference have been prepared. Local accommodation providers have also expressed strong interest in the initiative. The district Akimat has been tasked with working alongside stakeholders to finalize the conditions for implementing the project.
Furthermore, at the initiative of East Kazakhstan Region Governor Nurymbet Saktaganov, a concept for the Altai City tourist town on the Bukhtarma Reservoir has been prepared. Currently, a concept for Kokterek Park on the Osinovsky Pass is also under development.
A separate initiative is the Ayaz Ata Auyly (Santa's Village) project, the concept for which is already complete.
In the Ulken Naryn District, preparations have begun for a pilot winter fishing tourism product. A working group has been established with the participation of the fisheries inspection, the relevant sports federation, and the Department of Tourism.
Infrastructure and Service Quality Are Mandatory Requirements
During the preparation of the Master Plan, inspections were conducted at the airport, railway and bus stations, museums, and several accommodation facilities. For example, it was found that the Oskemen bus station currently does not operate at night, and restrooms close after 8:00 PM. Meanwhile, night buses continue to arrive, and passengers must have comfortable conditions while waiting for transport.
Separate work is underway on land plot inventory and the formation of investment sites. However, the pace of this work remains insufficient. During a meeting at the Akimat, officials emphasized the need to fulfill previously issued protocol instructions on developing tourism infrastructure, including strengthening coordination among relevant departments.
Work is also ongoing in workforce training. Agreements have been reached with the International University of Tourism and Hospitality to provide regional educational grants—on the condition that graduates return to work in East Kazakhstan—organize student internships at regional tourism facilities, and establish a training classroom at one of the local hotels.
A Unified Promotion and Management System
The Master Plan envisions developing the Visit East Kazakhstan tourism brand as a single entry point for travelers. It will consolidate up-to-date information on routes, accommodations, transport, events, and services with direct booking options.
Alongside this, plans include creating a unified cadastre of tourism resources, improving navigation, upgrading museum and sports facilities, and advancing digital services and tourist flow monitoring systems.
Implementation of the Master Plan is divided into three stages: in 2026–2027, a management system will be established and core products prepared; in 2028–2030, tourism territories and infrastructure will be developed; and in 2031–2035, successful projects will be scaled up and the region’s international positioning strengthened.
Regional Akim Nurymbet Saktaganov set the task of ensuring practical implementation of the Master Plan and strengthening the personal accountability of relevant departments and local executive bodies.
"Every direction, every project, and every instruction must have designated persons responsible, clear deadlines, and measurable performance indicators. We must bring this work to tangible results: a service is launched, a tourist arrives, local businesses earn revenue, and residents gain additional income opportunities. I instruct the relevant departments and the akims of districts and cities to intensify their efforts, eliminate interdepartmental barriers, and ensure continuous oversight of the assigned tasks. Special attention must be paid to preparing investment sites, developing off-season tourism products, improving service quality, and upgrading infrastructure facilities. East Kazakhstan possesses tremendous potential. Our task is to transform it into sought-after tourism products and a sustainable sector of the economy," Nurymbet Saktaganov emphasized.
