Snow Leopard likely to be Kazakhstan's tourist brand - Vice Minister of Tourism and Sport

ANA. August 21. KAZINFORM. /Muratbek Makulbekov/ Kazakhstan has a big potential for developing and making tourism a high-yield economy sector. Our country is popular with its unique landscapes which can attract tourists from different countries. In the interview to Kazinform Kazakhstan Vice Minister of Tourism and Sport Kairbek Uskenbayev has told about the current state in the country's tourist sector and what impact the crisis had on the domestic tourist market.

What is the dynamics of tourism development in Kazakhstan?

Main purpose of tourism development in Kazakhstan is to create modern efficient and competitive tourist complex, which will provide background for development of this sphere as an economy sector, integration into the system of world tourist market and promotion of further international cooperation in this field. Though the country has managed to keep a stable growth of 2008 tourism development indices, the statistics shows that the global crisis affected inbound tourism. It reduced by 11%. Meanwhile many international experts forecast upturn in the tourism industry within 2 or 3 years.

In comparison with 2007 the level of investments increased by 34% and amounted to KZT 129 billion.

We also can forecast growth of demand for health resort tourism.

What factors hinder development of tourism industry?

 Among such factors I can name nonconformity of tourist facilities and transport infrastructure to international standards, low-level service, underdevelopment of material and technical base, insufficient level of staff training.

Today we work in these directions. Within the framework of the Bolashak Presidential Scholarship Kazakhstani students study tourism management and hotel management at the best universities of Russia, China, France, the USA, Germany, Japan and England.

The Kazakhstan Ministry of Tourism and Sport together with the Ministry of Education and Science, Kokshetau State University, Eurasian National Gumilyov University and representatives of tourism and hotel business associations proceeded to the establishment of the international hospitality industry school in Schuchinsk-Borovoye resort area, Akmola region. The creation of such school is realized within the EU-funded TEMPUS project on creation of 4 hotel training schools.

Does Kazakhstan have its own tourist brand?

The main brand of our country is President Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev. The world community respects him much. Thanks to him Kazakhstan reached economic success and political stability. He managed to draw attention of the whole world to our country.

We do not have an official brand yet. But may be Snow Leopard will be associated with Kazakhstan in the nearest future since it has become a mascot of the 2011 Asian Winter Games.

Astana with its main sight Baiterek also becomes popular among foreign tourists.

What is the progress of preparation for the 18^th session of the UNWTO General Assembly?

Kazakhstan joined the UNWTO in 1993. In 2007 Astana city was selected to host the 18^th session of the UNWTO General Assembly.

This international event gives an opportunity to position our country as a new tourist destination and raise investment attractiveness of the domestic tourism industry development.

To prepare for the session the Government of Kazakhstan established an interdepartmental organization committee chaired by Prime Minister Karim Massimov. The Ministry of Home Affairs is ready to ensure security of official delegations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs helped ensure visa support for foreign guests. Our Ministry closely works with Astana Akimat over some other issues.

In whole we expect about 900 participants from over 150 countries of the world.

Thank you for the interview.