Kazakhstan Welcomes 655,000 Chinese Tourists in 2024, Achieving Record-Breaking Growth with Powerful Partnerships and Events

Published on February 7, 2025

Kazakhstan welcomed a record 655,000 Chinese tourists in 2024, a 78% surge, driven by bold partnerships, mega events, and growing industry collaborations.

Kazakhstan welcomed 655,000 Chinese tourists in 2024, marking a significant 78% increase compared to the previous year. Nurtas Karipbayev, chairman of the Tourism Industry Committee under the Kazakh Transport Ministry, shared the milestone during a February 6 press conference at the Central Communications Service (CCS).

The surge followed the designation of 2024 as the Year of Kazakhstan’s Tourism in China, announced during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Beijing. The initiative expanded tourism opportunities and industry collaborations, targeting 500,000 Chinese visitors and $300 million in tourism revenue.

According to Karipbayev, over 200 agreements were inked between regional tourism boards, travel agencies, and media platforms. Kazakhstan gained widespread visibility as a travel hotspot, with Chinese media giants and social networks—reaching an audience of 1.3 billion people—broadcasting promotional content.

Throughout the year, 37 major business and cultural events were held to elevate Kazakhstan’s appeal in the Chinese market. Auto tourism also saw rising interest, with events like the Silk Road rally, Silk Road motorcycle tour, and the Paris-Peking Motor Challenge fostering cross-border travel experiences.

Almaty emerged as the most sought-after destination among Chinese visitors, while Astana positioned itself as a hub for business and medical tourism. These developments were spotlighted at the Beijing roadshow, alongside efforts to expand Kazakhstan’s presence in international tourism exhibitions.

Kazakhstan participated in four major Chinese tourism expos—ITB China, ITE Hong Kong, China Outbound Travel & Tourism Market (COTTM), and the China International Medical Tourism Fair—leading to over 50 new partnerships with top Chinese tour operators. Additionally, ten familiarization trips were conducted across Kazakhstan, attracting industry professionals and 30 influential opinion leaders with a collective reach of over 100 million followers.

The country’s tourism potential received extensive digital exposure, with the three-part documentary “Bond with China” airing on China’s largest broadcaster, CCTV, while influencer campaigns and targeted promotions amassed over 60 million social media views.

Cultural exchange played a crucial role in strengthening ties. The Kazakhconcert group toured Dezhou and Langfang, an exhibition from Kazakhstan’s National Museum was hosted in Tianjin, and Beijing saw the vibrant Nauryzfest ethno festival, which officially launched the Year of Tourism. Urumqi further celebrated Kazakh heritage with a gastronomic festival.

The official opening ceremony on March 28-29 at China’s National Opera House welcomed over 500 guests, while the initiative concluded on November 27 in Almaty with an international tourism forum featuring 300 industry leaders.

Following the success of 2024, Kazakhstan and China are set to deepen tourism ties further—2025 has now been officially declared the Year of China’s Tourism in Kazakhstan.