Kazakhstan records 15.7mn foreign arrivals in 2025; tourism investment tops 2.2tn KZT in 2 years
Kazakhstan tourism representative image
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined key benchmarks for unlocking the Kazakhstan’s tourism potential, increasing the sector's competitiveness, strengthening human resources, and ensuring high service standards across all travel destinations.
The Head of State defined a clear division of responsibilities: the regions are responsible for infrastructure development, while central bodies focus on promoting Kazakhstan abroad, attracting foreign tourists, and improving legislation. As part of executing the Head of State's instructions, the Government is implementing a comprehensive set of systemic measures to modernise resort areas, stimulate investment, and expand transport accessibility. By the end of 2025, the sector's total contribution to the economy reached 5 trillion KZT, and the number of employed exceeded 600 thousand people.
1.3 trillion KZT and 328 projects
According to the official information source of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in recent years, state policy reportedly aimed at stimulating investment activity has ensured a manifold inflow of funds into the tourism sector. While capital investments amounted to 787.3 billion KZT in 2023, they increased to 947.5 billion KZT (up 20.3%) in 2024, and reached 1.25 trillion KZT (up 32.6%) by the end of 2025. In total, during 2024–2025, the industry attracted over 2.2 trillion KZT in investments, demonstrating a two-year growth of nearly 60%.
Currently, 328 investment projects with a total value of about 1.3 trillion KZT are being implemented in the republic. Their phased commissioning will create around 10 thousand permanent jobs and open 25 new international-class hotel complexes, including facilities from networks such as Hilton and Mandarin Oriental, as well as an expansion project for the Oi-Qaragai all-season mountain resort. Additionally, the construction of 24 world-class hotels in 11 regions is being planned to use preferential loans and investment incentives.
Concurrently, the network of operating accommodation facilities is expanding: the number of properties grew from 3,992 in 2023 to 4,482 in 2025, and reached over 4.5 thousand units as of April 1, 2026. The volume of services rendered by them rose from 229 billion KZT in 2023 to 350.6 billion KZT in 2025. In the first quarter of 2026, the figure stood at 69.4 billion KZT, exceeding the results of the same period last year by 13.9%.
15.7 million visits and geography expansion
In 2025, the country was reportedly visited by 15.7 million foreign citizens (compared to 9.2 million in 2023), 11.1 million of whom were classified as tourists. Foreign guests spent USD 2.9 billion inside the republic.
The number of foreign citizens served directly by accommodation facilities grew from 1 million people in 2023 to 1.29 million in 2024 and 1.43 million in 2025. In 2025, the highest dynamics in inbound tourist flow were shown by the Almaty region (+29.7%), Zhetysu region (+25.88%), and Kyzylorda region (+25.5%). A substantial contribution to the increase in tourist traffic was made by travel simplification with the PRC: by the end of the year, the flow from China grew by 46.8%, exceeding 960 thousand people. In the first half of 2026, Kazakhstan welcomed 7 million foreign tourists, with the main share coming from Uzbekistan (2.5 million), Kyrgyzstan (1.6 million), and Russia (1.5 million).
Domestic tourism also reportedly demonstrating confident growth. The flow of Kazakhstani citizens travelling within the country rose from 7.1 million people in 2023 to 7.8 million in 2024 and 8.7 million in 2025 (up 10.7% for the year). In the first quarter of 2026, accommodation facilities served 1.965 million people (+2.3%).
The Government is said to be focusing on expanding transport logistics. Following the completion of 33 infrastructure projects worth 131 billion KZT (including the development of the "Warm Beach" area in the Mangystau region), roadworks covered 11,000 km of public roads in 2026. Repairs and construction affected access roads to the resort areas of Rakhmanov Springs, Kenderli, Bayanaul, Zerenda, Kolsai, and other recreational spots.
New regional tourist airports are being built in Katon-Karagai, Zaysan, and Kenderli; Arkalyk Airport has been restored; Balkhash Airport resumed operations; and the terminal in Urdzhar is being modernised. For the summer season, 45 subsidised flights per week have been organised on routes to Alakol, Balkhash, Turkestan, Burabay, and the Caspian Sea coast.
For the integrated development of key destinations, the Roadmap for the Development of Resort Areas for 2026–2029 was approved, alongside targeted Comprehensive Plans for Mangystau, the Shchuchinsk-Borovoye resort zone, and the Almaty mountain cluster. Within the Almaty mountain cluster, plans include integrating ski areas with the construction of 30 cable cars and 161 km of trails, targeting a long-term goal of up to 5 million tourists annually.
