Results of Kazakhstan’s Year of Tourism in China: Visitor Flow Soars by 50%
The official closing ceremony of Kazakhstan's Year of Tourism in China took place in Almaty, marking the culmination of a year-long initiative that saw remarkable success in strengthening tourism ties between the two nations.
Over 300 representatives from Kazakhstan and China’s tourism industries gathered for an international forum to reflect on the achievements and explore future cooperation. The event featured a plenary session, panel discussions on the “Dynamics of Tourism Development” and “Promising Areas of Further Cooperation,” and B2B meetings between tourism professionals.
In 2024, Kazakhstan organized more than 30 major events in Chinese cities, including Tourism Days and thematic weeks, highlighting various types of tourism. Large-scale media campaigns helped boost Kazakhstan’s image, reaching 1.8 billion views across Chinese media and 160 million social media users.
According to Kazakhstan’s Border Service, the number of Chinese visitors to Kazakhstan grew by 50%, with 550,000 arrivals recorded over the first 10 months of 2024, up from 367,000 in 2023. In comparison, Kazakhstani visits to China also increased by 31%. This growth underscores the success of the Year of Tourism initiatives.
The year-long celebration included cultural exhibitions, large media coverage, and participation in international tourism fairs such as COTTM, ITB China, and ITE Hong Kong. Events like the Silk Road car rally and the Peking-Paris Motor Challenge drew significant participation, while concerts in Shandong and Hebei showcased Kazakhstan’s rich cultural heritage.
The event wrapped up with a key B2B negotiation session involving 80 tour operators, aimed at strengthening business ties between the two countries. Looking ahead, the next year will be dedicated to “The Year of Tourism of China in Kazakhstan,” as announced by the two presidents during a joint press conference.
The results of this year’s initiative demonstrate the growing interest in tourism between Kazakhstan and China, reinforcing Kazakhstan’s position as a premier tourist destination.
