Kazakhstan to Promote Agritourism to Strengthen Rural Economies

Kazakhstan is taking steps to develop agritourism through new legislation that will allow farmers to engage in ecotourism on their land. Government officials anticipate that the initiative will create jobs and increase incomes in rural areas.

Agritourism involves urban residents visiting farms and agricultural enterprises. It typically includes two formats: passive and active. In the passive model, visitors observe farm life, interact with animals from a distance, and take part in photo shoots in fields and rural settings, The Caspian Post reports citing The Times of Central Asia.

The active model allows tourists to participate in agricultural activities such as caring for livestock and crops, harvesting produce, and even assisting with equipment repairs.

Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerbol Mirzabasynov announced at a recent government meeting that the draft law currently under review by the Mazhilis, the lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament, includes provisions to support agritourism as part of broader reforms in the tourism sector.

“It is planned to grant farmers the right to engage in agritourism on their plots. Currently, there are more than 200,000 small farms across the country. This measure will create additional jobs for rural residents and improve the welfare of rural communities,” Mirzabasynov stated.

In addition to agritourism, Kazakhstan plans to promote mountain tourism. Mirzabasynov noted that a comprehensive development plan has already been drafted for the Almaty mountain cluster.

“According to international experience, the average spending by mountain tourists is about $350, compared to $50 for beach tourism,” he said. “In addition to Almaty, other regions, particularly East Kazakhstan, also have strong potential. Construction is underway on airports in Katon-Karagay and Zaisan to support this development.”

The ministry is also working on upgrading national parks to enhance ecotourism. In recent years, eight visitor centers have been constructed, with tourist trails equipped with basic infrastructure.

“Similar initiatives will be implemented in other regions to foster various types of tourism,” Mirzabasynov added. “Particularly important areas include ethno-cultural tourism, children and youth tourism, medical and wellness tourism, business travel, caravanning, and auto-tourism.”

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Kazakhstan hosted 10.5 million domestic tourists and welcomed 15.3 million foreign visitors last year.