Kazakhstan plans to create a tour operator fund

Almaty. June 29. Silkroadnews – Kazakhstan plans to establish a fund formed out of contributions made by tour operators, Jenis Kasymbek, the country’s minister of investment and development, said, KazTAG writes.

“It is planned to introduce a rights guarantee system for the country’s citizens in the international tourism field.

There will be a fund formed out of the contributions paid by tour operators. The funds will be used in case of tour operators’ unfair performance or non-performance of their duties with respect to tourists-citizens of Kazakhstan,” J. Kasymbek said during the reporting meeting with the population on the day before.

According to him, the tourism industry development is important for each region of Kazakhstan. It is the only sector of the economy that can recover quite promptly in the post-crisis economic periods.

“We have updated the concept of tourism development until 2020. We create the conditions for the foreign tourists to stay in Kazakhstan. Visa waivers for the states members in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development also made a positive impact on the whole process,” minister said.

In particular, Kazakhstan is working to improve existing tourist routes, carry out tourist sites inventory, reveal the infrastructure and transportation needs.

“It is planned to run trains “Turan Express” along the Kazakhstani side of the Silk Road along the route Astana-Karaganda-Almaty-Taraz-Shymkent-Turkestan-Kyzylorda-Baikonur,” J. Kasymbek said.