ASTANA is extending its pilot programme offering visa-free entry for 10 countries in a bid to grow inbound tourism and reduce tourism trade deficit.
Piloted in 2014, the year-long scheme offered to 10 countries – France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, South Korea, the UAE, UK and US – would have expired on July 15.
Under the new extension, the 10 countries initially given the visa-free entry will continue to enjoy the facility until 2016*. Kazakhstan is also including OECD countries and Singapore into the programme, though these markets will be brought on board gradually between now and 2016.
Timur Duisengaliyev, director of the Tourism Industry Department, said at a press conference yesterday that the pilot project had been reviewed and found to be most beneficial to business tourists.
“One year is not enough to benefit leisure inbound tour operators who need a longer duration to see results from their marketing efforts,” he said.
The Tourism Industry Department is looking at setting up overseas marketing representation offices in China, India and Russia, possibly by the end of 2015, as these three countries have the capability of “generating high volumes of inbound tourists” for Kazakhstan.
Duisengaliyev said the department is looking at Malaysia as a model to develop standards for halal tourism as well as international promotions.
Tourism is still a new industry in Kazakhstan and contributes about 1.5 per cent of the nation’s GDP.
[CLARIFICATION] Kazakhstan’s Tourism Industry Department has clarified that the visa free policy has been extended for only one year from July 15, 2015, and not up to 2017 as stated earlier
