KITF 2009 Announcement: Kazakhstan to become a leading tourist hub

ASTANA. February 26. KAZINFORM What new flights have been opened lately? What are the latest trends in tourism? What discount systems are available, and can travel costs be minimised? Have any new efficient destinations appeared? All these questions will be answered by the international tourist fair KITF 2009, to be held in Almaty on 23-25 April.

The keynote of KITF will be the presentation of our country ? a host of the delegation to the 18th General Assembly of the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) scheduled for this October. Kazakhstan has become the first post-Soviet country to have this honour, which undoubtedly provides a real opportunity to vie for the status of a leading tourist hub. Astana will soon be hosting heads of tourist ministries and agencies from 157 UNWTO countries. Notably, KITF is included in the UNWTO?s annual action plan. KITF is organised by exhibition companies Iteca (Kazakhstan) and ITE (UK) jointly with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan and the Almaty City Akimat (administration). This year?s exhibitors include a few hundred companies from more than 30 countries and a few thousand specialists in tourism and concurrent industries. KITF is an enchanting spectacle of not only original stands but also special presentations and workshops, as well as performances by national companies and tasting contests at culinary competitions. Traditionally, the event will include local resorts and health centres, hotels and travel agencies, and national stands of dozens of countries willing to attract Kazakhstan tourists. KITF will become a true Kazakhstan demonstration of the hospitality industry. At the same time, in the nearby pavilion, Iteca organises HOREX, an exhibition on ?Everything for Hotels, restaurants and Supermarkets? thus attracting hotel and restaurant business specialists to Almaty. For participation or visiting the exhibition and special events, please contact the organisers at [phone]. Visit http://www.kitf.kz/en/ for more information about the event, Kazinform refers to the press serive of RK Embassy in Israel.