The Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports recently organised ‘Creative Tourism Forum 2023’ where key stakeholders discussed the power of creative tourism projects to unlock and foster regional potential in Kazakhstan.

In order to promote tourism in various regions of the country, the Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports recently organised the ‘Creative Tourism Forum 2023’.

Organised in Turkistan, a city in western Kazakhstan and about 850 km from Almaty, the event  addressed the key challenges and opportunities in tourism experiences and to activate the potential of creative industries.

In a press statement the ministry says that the event gathered representatives from regional creative hubs, experts in education, architecture and urban planning and included an art fair, educational exhibition and seminars to align creative projects as a means to unlock regional potential.

UNDP says the cultural and creative industries contribute 3.1 pc to the global GDP and provide jobs for 6.2 pc of the working population. In 2020, this sector accounted for 2.67 pc of Kazakhstan’s GDP, employing around 95,000 people. The total investment in fixed capital in this sector amounts to approximately KZT 33.3 billion, or USD 72 million.

“The creative economy is about teaching our creators how to monetise their creative potential. We organised a series of events as part of the Turkistan Travel fest. It included a photography festival to promote environmental conservation, educational lectures and seminars, made in KZ fair, street performance fest and an eco-friendly road tour. These events contribute to the region’s development and tourist attractiveness. We are delighted to host the creative forum today as an integral part of the dialogue between all interested parties,” says Irina Kharitonova, Director of the Creative Tourism Department at Kazakh Tourism. 

According to Kharitonova, creativity is all about innovation and the creative industry primarily attracts tourists.

Last year, Kazakhstan introduced the concepts of creative activity and creative industries by amending the Law on Culture and the Entrepreneurial Code. Consequently, creative industries are now considered part of the country’s private business sector, says the press statement by the ministry.

It adds that events like the World Nomad Games, which align with this direction of creative tourism, contribute to the sector’s growth.

Notably, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture of the Turkistan Region Adil Konysbekov discussed the events and activities implemented in the region to boost the industry during a panel session. Additionally, Hamdi Güvenç, Aviation CEO and Board Member of YDA Group, said that it is necessary to develop infrastructure, particularly airport infrastructure, to increase tourism.

The statement adds that Turkish companies are ready to share their travel industry experience with Kazakh partners. According to the World Tourism Organisation’s assessment, Turkiye ranked fourth worldwide in the number of tourists visiting the country.

The ministry says that Daniyar Mukitanov, the Head of Experimentation at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan, announced that UNDP and the Kazakh Ministry of National Economy signed an agreement to finance a program on regional development in the Abai, Zhetisy, Ulytau, and Kyzylorda Regions.