Ridder has strong potential to become one of Kazakhstan’s key year-round mountain tourism destinations. A long snow season, mountainous terrain and unique natural landscapes create favorable conditions for winter sports as well as active, eco, family and adventure tourism.
In the first quarter of 2026, Ridder welcomed around 11,000 tourists, including approximately 1,300 international visitors. The city currently has 42 registered tourism facilities providing services to travelers.
Tourism infrastructure in Ridder continues to expand. This year, the Ridder Inn hotel complex and restaurant, with an investment of 750 million tenge, was commissioned. Reconstruction of the Ridder Resort Hotel and the Edelweiss tourist base is also underway, while the Altay Kompas tourism complex project is being implemented.
One of the region’s most promising projects is the development of the Anatau year-round ski resort in the Ivanovsky Range. The project is expected to significantly expand Ridder’s tourism opportunities and help establish a modern mountain tourism hub capable of welcoming visitors throughout the year.
“Ridder should strengthen its position not only as an industrial city, but also as one of the country’s main mountain tourism centers. Tourists should come here not just for a few hours, but stay for several days, use local services and return again,” said Nurymbet Saktaganov, Akim of East Kazakhstan Region.
The development of tourism in Ridder is not limited to the winter season. Future plans include expanding hiking and cycling routes and developing eco, family, sports and adventure tourism.
A Tourism and Investment Center has already been launched in Ridder. The next step is the creation of a modern tourist visitor center, which will help promote local attractions and support the development of new tourism routes.
Positioning Ridder as a year-round tourism destination will create new opportunities for entrepreneurship, the hospitality and service sectors, increase the length of visitors’ stays and attract further investment to the tourism industry of East Kazakhstan.
