The Tourism Potential of Kazakhstan and Armenia. the Peculiarities of the Two Countries

• 08.07.2015, 10:57
•  EEU,  Armenia

Both Kazakhstan and Armenia have great tourism potential and can cooperate closely in this field. This was said by the representatives of the two countries at the conference "The Tourism Potential of Kazakhstan and Armenia: Experience, the Perspectives of Cooperation."

The conference was held in Tsakhkadzor in the framework of the project "Armenia-Kazakhstan: Cooperation Platforms" implemented by NGO "European Integration" with the support of Embassy of Kazakhstan in Armenia.

The conference was attended by representatives of tour operators and hotel complexes in Armenia, as well as representatives of the tourism industry in Kazakhstan. Presentations were made by the Head of the Office of Tourism Development Policy of the RA Ministry of Economy, Mekhak Apresyan; an expert on economic integration, the former director on Export Promotion and enterprises of Armenian Development Agency, Lusine Tumyan; the Coordinator of the Information Resource Center Ecotourism of Kazakhstan Aigul Isagulova and head of domestic and external tourism of Kazakhstan Tourism Association, Raushan Sartayeva.

The speakers noted that tourism as an export category ranks fourth, and plays an important role for the stable development of the economy.

"In Armenia, starting from the first years of independence, annual growth of tourism was recorded. In 2014 it reached 1 million 203 thousand," said Mekhak Apresyan. He also stressed that the purpose of the state is to promote equal, sustainable development of the country, providing a plurality of jobs by using the tourism industry. "It is important to be available to the international market, and for this it is necessary to develop transport communications and simplified border regime, what we are trying to do," the speaker said.

Apresyan noted with regret that the flow of tourists from Kazakhstan to Armenia is quite small: in 2014 their number reached only 5 thousand. "But the good news is that in comparison with 2013, 20% increase was recorded," he said.

The speakers also stressed the potential of Armenia in the issue of development of different spheres of tourism and the variety and the quality of services.

Representatives of the Kazakh side, in their turn, noted the main features of tourism in Kazakhstan. The speakers highlighted the natural resources of Kazakhstan and the possibility of development of the various strata of tourism in different regions of Kazakhstan. Given the potential of Kazakhstan, in 2020 the country intends to increase the number of tourists up to 8 million.

"The main markets for the tourism in Kazakhstan are Russia, China, India and Europe," said Aigul Isagulova. She also stressed that now the state seeks to develop eco-tourism, especially in rural areas, and help to increase employment in the tourism sector.

Both the speakers and the participants made suggestions on the possibilities of cooperation between Armenia and Kazakhstan in the field of tourism. They also discussed the existing obstacles in this regard and ways to overcome them.