Kazakh Tourism has set up its first international tourism office in India at a landmark moment in its tourism history. The inauguration occurred during the South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE) event held from February 22–24, 2024. It is the largest international tourism exhibition. It took place at the India Expo Mart in New Delhi, India’s capital. Several dignitaries graced the occasion. Among them were Mr. Kairat Sadvakassov, who is the Chairman of JSC NC Kazakh Tourism, the head of the Asia Pacific Tourism Association (PATA), the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia, and tourism representatives from Belarus, Russia, and other countries.
Expanding the Tourism Market
Kazakh Tourism appointed its representative for the Indian market. Mr. Kairat Sadvakassov presented Mr. Prashant Chaudhary, CEO of Salvia Promoters, with an official certificate. Salvia Promoters is a well-known company that encourages Central Asian and Russian markets in the tourism sector. It has widely represented various countries in the region as a promotion office and a visa centre. Celebrating the occasion, Mr. Kairat Sadvakassov said, “This marks a new chapter in the international promotion of Kazakhstan’s tourism … Having our representative in India, one of the world’s most promising outbound tourism markets, is a significant achievement. We intend to replicate this success in our other target markets.”
Ease of Tourism in Kazakhstan
Mr. Prashant Chaudhary highlighted the various tourist attractions in Kazakhstan. He said, “I am honoured to represent Kazakhstan tourism in India. Kazakhstan, the world’s largest landlocked country, boasts diverse landscapes, vibrant city life, and a rich archaeological history.” Regarding Kazakhstan as a convenient destination for Indian tourists, Mr. Chaudhary continued, “With visa-free travel for Indian passport holders and direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Almaty, Kazakhstan offers an enticing short-haul destination for Indian travellers. The growing interest is evident as Indian travellers explore beyond Almaty, venturing into Astana, Shymkent, showcasing the vast potential Kazakhstan holds.”
Future Plans
Mr. Chaudhary pointed out how Kazakhstan was gradually becoming one of the top choices for Indian tourists. In this regard, he said, “Our target is to make Kazakhstan one of the preferred tourist destinations in India. We will be engaging with travel trade and media partners besides stepping on our participation in travel exhibitions to promote various destinations across Kazakhstan in India.” Talking about the plans of Kazakh tourism in India, Mr. Kairat Sadvakassov elaborated, “Our focus is on FIT (Fully Independent Traveller) and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) segments in India. We plan to organise a roadshow in Mumbai later this year to offer a platform for our DMCs to network with Indian travel agents. We will be hosting a media familiarisation trip too.”
SATTE 2024 witnessed the first such collaboration between Kazakhstan and India this year. A plan is to send Indian travel journalists to Kazakhstan by mid-2024 to boost tourism cooperation. The Tourism Board is also in talks with the Travel Agents Federation of India to host its annual convention in Kazakhstan in 2024 or 2025.
The aim of Kazakh Tourism and Salvia Promoters is twofold: to present Kazakhstan as an attractive tourist destination for Indian travellers and to represent Kazakh Tourism’s interest in the booming tourism market of India. Many experts have predicted that the outbound tourism market in India will exceed 50 million tourists by 2026. Mr. Chaudhary anticipates that Kazakhstan will host a sizeable Indian tourist population annually by then. After successfully collaborating with India, Kazakh Tourism plans to inaugurate its offices in China, the UK, Germany, Russia and the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council).
