Kazakhstan Eyes Major Tourism Boost Through Ski Resort Development with PGI Management

Almaty, The Gulf Observer: Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held a key meeting on Saturday with Joan Viladomat, President of PGI Management, to explore strategic cooperation in ski tourism, with a particular focus on enhancing the Almaty mountain cluster, according to News Hub Consultants.

The discussion centered on global tourism trends and the transformative economic potential of ski tourism in driving social and regional development in mountainous regions. PGI Management, known for its global expertise in ski resort management, has played a pivotal role in the success of iconic resorts in Switzerland (Davos, St. Moritz), France (Courchevel), Austria (Ischgl, Tyrol), the United States (Vail, Aspen), and Canada (Whistler Blackcomb). The company’s achievements include boosting tourism in Andorra, which hosted 9.6 million visitors last year despite a population of just 80,000.

The Almaty cluster currently welcomes 2 million visitors annually, providing 2,000 seasonal jobs, with 41 kilometers of ski trails, 16 ski lifts, and a daily visitor capacity of 6,000. Plans are underway to significantly expand the region’s infrastructure — including extending ski trails to 227 kilometers and increasing ski lifts to 58, which could boost capacity to 34,000 visitors per day and create up to 10,000 new jobs.

If realized, these enhancements could raise the number of annual tourists to 7.5 million by 2029, making the Almaty cluster a leading winter destination in Central Asia.

Prime Minister Bektenov emphasized the importance of economic diversification in the current global climate, identifying tourism, alongside manufacturing, digitalization, and logistics, as essential growth drivers. “Tourism should be a new force of economic growth,” he said.

This initiative aligns with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s earlier remarks stressing the crucial role of private sector investment in Kazakhstan’s tourism development.

The collaboration with PGI Management marks a significant step in Kazakhstan’s long-term strategy to become a premier destination for international tourists while stimulating regional economies through sustainable tourism.