Kazakhstan's Saty village named one of the world's best tourism villages

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has revealed the list of the Best Tourism Villages 2023 featuring Kazakhstan’s Saty village, Kazinform cites the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports. 

The Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO 2023 awarding ceremony took place this week in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Launched in 2021, the Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO initiative is part of the UNWTO Tourism for Rural Development Program. It is called to make tourism the driving force of development and prosperity of rural areas.

Situated in the Kolsai Lakes National Park in Almaty region, it has three of the most beautiful lakes in the region, including Kolsai and Kaiyndy lakes. Saty boasts the biggest number of homestays thanks to constant engagement of locals.

In the past five years the national park has created comfortable routes and hiking trails, benches, arbors, boat landings and has to offer sweeping views on the lakes.

Kazakhstani tour operators and owns of homestays from other regions are offered training and workshops to dissimilate Saty’s successful experience in Kazakhstan.

Saty has 90 homestays and 30 hotels to offer to tourists and potential visitors. The number of tourist facilities has doubled compared to 2019. The majority of locals are involved in tourism business, according to Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerzhan Yerkinbayev.