Yuliya Yakupbaeva spoke about the ongoing work of NCE on the development of tourist potential of Kazakhstan on the threshold of EXPO-2017

How to maximize the flow of tourists to Kazakhstan through EXPO-2017? This was the main topic at the meeting held on 6^th of September at the meeting of the Public Council under JSC "NC" Astana EXPO-2017", where invited experts shared their views and vision on this matter.

Deputy Chairman of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs "Atameken" Yuliya Yakupbaeva focused attention on the whole package of issues and proposals in her speech. "We must understand that the Expo gives a powerful impetus to attract a large number of foreign visitors to Kazakhstan. What shall we do, not to lose, but to develop this effect, and to make people fall in love with Kazakhstan and to return again and again", - she began her presentation.

"Akimats conduct work on the inventory of the tourist potential, and it is conducted jointly with our regional chambers. The work on the preparation of business cards of each region is also underway. We need to know exactly what to show to tourists and in what condition is each attraction", - said Yuliya Yakupbaeva.

According to Deputy Chairman of NCE, all 16 business cards of regions have already been prepared and will soon be submitted to the Government and NC "Astana EXPO-2017".

At the initiative of "Atameken" on the basis of the work on the inventory of objects were composed Roadmaps. There government instructions "to address the issue of provision of funding for the regional maps, including connection of engineering networks to the infrastructure". Yuliya Yakupbaeva added that 11 road maps have been submitted for approval, until mid-September of the current year the rest will be ready.

Yuliya Yakupbaeva shared information, which NCE RK "Atameken", get from its Facebook page "Management - Business - Tourism", on which Kazakhstani residents can leave their comments and suggestions on the development of the tourism industry in the country. Most complaints are related to roads on the way to the different tourist attractions. "They write that on a 60 km road to the Natural Park, they have to spend up to 5 hours. It's very hard, it affects wheels and there is no road service to repair it. These things are unacceptable, they should be, while we have time before the Expo, put in order, and it will not cost a lot of money. Specific proposals were included in the road map", - said Yuliya Yakupbaeva.

"As for estimated attendance of the main tourist destinations, such as Alakol, Balkhash, it has increased significantly this season. The number of complaints has grown on the quality of service, garbage, lack of basic toilets. We offer EXPO to support us in matters of required zoning, install the necessary road infrastructure, public assessment of the activity of the organizations on the garbage disposal. It is also necessary to conduct an outreach, social advertising in order to attract attention to this problem", - she said.

Tour operators complain about the high cost of tickets. "For example, a resident of West Kazakhstan wants to come with his family to the Expo or just to Astana. On a plane for four people, he will have to spend 200 thousand tenge. That's a lot. On the train, he had to go for four days, he has no such holiday. On the bus it is too long to go", - said Yuliya Yakupbaeva.

In this regard, Deputy Chairman of NCE "Atameken" urged the public council members to support the proposal of NCE on low cost flights in order to reduce the cost and to simplify travel across Kazakhstan. In addition, visa issues were not resolved fully.

"Because of modernization of online registration system "Berkut", foreigners must go directly to the offices of the migration police", - said Deputy Chairman of NCE.

"In general, it is important on the example of such countries as Georgia, which have recently achieved success in tourism, to create a National Tourist Office as soon as possible. This office will promote Kazakhstan and its national brand at foreign markets", - Yuliya Yakupbaeva.

"We are very pleased that by the results of the visit of the Prime Minister to Almaty, it was decided to establish a Working Group on August 15 this year to discuss the problems of the tourism industry under the leadership of the First Deputy Prime Minister. All the issues of both regional and national level will be discussed at this high level", - concluded Yuliya Yakupbaeva.

By the way, in subsequent speeches of the Member of the organizing committee of EXPO 2010 in Shanghai, and Chairman of the EXPO 2015 in Milan was stated that the success of the exhibition is stipulated by tourism development - it is the development of infrastructure and transport accessibility. So NCE is moving in the right direction.

Zhanar Serdalina