Kazakhstan Sees Surge in Tourist Spending and Visitor Numbers

Astana, The Gulf Observer: According to recent media reports, a tourist from a non-CIS country spends an average of $1,500 in Kazakhstan. This increase in spending highlights the country’s growing appeal as a tourist destination.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sport has noted a significant rise in interest from Chinese citizens, largely due to the new visa-free regime. In 2022, 17,700 Chinese tourists visited various cities in Kazakhstan. This number soared to 367,400 in 2023, with total spending exceeding $500,000, averaging $1,500 per tourist. The increase in tourist numbers has been supported by the operation of 44 daily flights between China and Kazakhstan.

In addition to Chinese tourists, Kazakhstan has experienced an uptick in visitors from other countries. The number of tourists from India reached 78,000 in 2023. The country also welcomed 85 tourists from Germany, 36,600 from South Korea, and 10,500 from the UAE. Collectively, these tourists spent almost $866,200 in Kazakhstan last year.

Interestingly, the lowest number of tourists came from Uzbekistan, with 3.6 million visitors. Russia followed with 2 million tourists, Kyrgyzstan with 1.6 million, and Tajikistan with 0.7 million. The majority of these foreign guests, 84.4%, arrived by car or bus, while 10.6% traveled by plane and only 5% by train.

Overall, Kazakhstan welcomed 9.2 million tourists in 2023, reflecting the country’s growing popularity and the effectiveness of its tourism strategies.