Экономические науки/ 16. Макроэкономика

Formation of the tourism industry in Kazakhstan

Таsmaganbetov А.B.

PhD student, University of International Business

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Historical preconditions of tourism development in Kazakhstan are formation and development of the Great Silk Way, the beginning of formation which concerns to the third millennium BC. During the Soviet period in Kazakhstan, basically internal tourism was developing and it represented one of the elements of cultural and educational work system which was carrying out an ideological function. But, despite its dominating role, it was financed by a residual principle and had no essential economic importance. The share of the international tourism was not considerable. Thus the profit received by the Kazakh republican council for tourism and excursions, annually increased up to the 80th years of the last century. Before finding of independence the tourism, as well as all other branches of economy, has been rigidly regulated by the center. After getting the independence Kazakhstan had a possibility to develop the industry of tourism considerably which was passed some stages of the development.

The first stage covers the period from 1991 to 1995 characterized as the period of tourism formation. Conditions for attraction of foreign tourists to republic are created in 1991 in the country. The decision of Kazakhstan cabinet «About tourism and sports development in the Republic of Kazakhstan», the Republic Kazakhstan Law «About tourism» and «Position about licensing, certifications of tourist and sports activity» were accepted. The international tourism develops fast rates. In connection with occurrence of possibility of free departure abroad mainly exit tourism develops in this period which share substantially surpasses entrance and internal tourism together taken. Besides, this period is characterized by considerable growth of the tourist companies’ quantity. If till 1991 in Kazakhstan only 3 organizations were engaged in tourism that in 1994 in the country 589 tourist organizations have been registered. In 1993 the country has been accepted in the World tourist organization. Exit tourist streams were focused on Poland, China (shop tours) and Bulgaria (rest). Great Britain, Germany, China and the USA were the countries generating tourist streams to Kazakhstan, during this period. Extensive growth of indicators on entrance tourism in Kazakhstan at the given stage has been predetermined by following factors:

- simplification of visa formalities, removal of restrictions on departure of citizens of Kazakhstan;

- acceleration of the exit documents’ registration process;

- occurrence and increase in social strata of the population possessing financial possibilities for trips abroad;

- using the foreign trips for solving of material and household problems, replenishment of the Kazakhstan market with consumer goods.

During the period from 1996 to 1999 the tourism infrastructure is formed. The actions for formation of the tourism industry in Republic have been carried out in the second half of the 90th year’s last century. So, preparation of experts for tourist branch has been begun in republic high schools in 1997. Same year Kazakhstan for the first time has taken part in the world's largest annual International tourist stock exchange «ITB-Berlin» and at sessions of General Assembly of the WTO. The National Company «Silk Way-Kazakhstan» was created in 1998 by the Decree of President «About Government program of the Republic of Kazakhstan« the Renaissance of the historical centers of the Silk way, preservation and successive development of culture of the Turk-speaking states, tourism infrastructure development». The “National program of the tourism industry development in Kazakhstan” is accepted, the system of licensing of tourist activity is reconsidered. Interdepartmental «Program of the embassies activity of the Republic of Kazakhstan concerning development of relations in tourism sphere» aimed at attraction of investments into tourism sphere, increase in a tourist stream, and also at protection of interests and the rights of the Kazakhstan tourists abroad was accepted by the Ministry of transport, communications and tourism together with Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the end of 1999.

The period from 2000 to 2003 is characterized by a competition aggravation and fluctuating growth in some directions of tourism. In 2000-2003 the plan of measures on formation of tourist image of Kazakhstan, confirmed by governmental order was realized. The Kazakhstan Tourist Association has been presented for the first time at tourist fair World Travel Market in London in 2000 which has been transformed to Agency on tourism and sports of Republic later. Besides, rules of licensing of tourist activity in Republic are changed, there is Governmental order of Republic «About prime measures of development of the tourist branch» and «the Concept of the tourism development in Kazakhstan». So, within the limits of realization of the measures plan for formation of tourist image of Kazakhstan with the assistance of Republic Kazakhstan Agency on tourism and sports a shooting by the Spanish broadcasting company «СКОМА Television» a documentary video film about history, culture, customs of our country «Kazakhstan: travel to heart of Eurasia» was organized and spent .

In order to attract foreign and domestic investments into branch, increase in entrance tourism in republic, maintenance of image of Kazakhstan as the states having a unique tourist product governmental order RK from 11/27/2000 «About the organization of annual international festival the Silk way – Kazakhstan in a city of Almaty» was accepted. The first tourist festival – fair had passed in 2001 where besides the project countries-participants «Silk way», tour operators from the different countries of the world took part. The government, the ministries and republic departments had been took the concrete measures directed on development of tourist branch and assistance to business in the sphere of tourism. For inconveniences elimination for foreign tourists the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic Kazakhstan the right of registration of foreign citizens delegated to a number of the hotels which list is planned to expand. The national Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan considers the questions of hotels releasing from obligatory sale of an export gain and reception of cash foreign currency at work with clients in five- and four star hotels is resolved. Along with it, with a view of simplification of visa formalities for citizens of the countries generating the basic stream to Kazakhstan and not representing economic and political threat for the country the decision on introduction in practice of visas registration to foreign tourists at the airports of Astana and Almaty was accepted. 22 states are included in the list of the countries.

The period since 2004 to 2007 is characterized by steady growth in all directions of tourism. During this period cardinal measures for formation of the effective industry of tourism of Republic have been taken. The purposes of reforming of tourist branch are:

- transformation of tourism into profitable branch of economy by creation of the highly profitable industry of the tourism, capable to make and realize a qualitative, competitive tourist product for the international tourist market;

- preservation and rational use of cultural-historical and natural-recreational resources;

- maintenance of availability of tourist resources for all levels of population, the maximum satisfaction of requirements for tourist services;

- increase of efficiency in interaction of the state and private structures in tourism sphere;

- development of small and average business in tourism sphere.

According to the Ministry of tourism and sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Agency of statistics for 2004-2007, the steady tendency of development of tourist branch was observed. For this period as a whole across Kazakhstan steady dynamics of development of tourist branch was observed, financial results of activity of tourist industry subjects have improved. The new impulse to development of the tourist industry was given by recognition of tourist branch as one of priority sectors of economy among seven cluster initiatives. Within the limits of development tourist cluster in republic priority directions of development of tourism, such, as business, ecological, cultural-informative, and also extreme tourism kinds have been allocated. Considering the importance of creation the tourist cluster, in 2005 the republic Government had been allocated financial assets in volume of 65 million tenge for carrying out of marketing researches of tourist potential of regions in Kazakhstan in order to determine the further strategy of development of the tourist industry.

Following the results of the spent researches recommendations about strategy of the tourist industry development of the country taking into account competitive advantages of Kazakhstan and cluster initiatives for the long-term period are developed, realization of some the projects one of which is working out of the Government program of tourism development in Republic for 2007-2011 is provided. Within the limits of a governmental program of tourism development for 2007-2011 creation of the competitive tourist industry for maintenance of employment of the population, stable growth of incomes of the country at the expense of increase in volumes of entrance and internal tourism, and also transformation of Kazakhstan in 2011 in the center of tourism of the central-Asian region is provided within five years.

In 2008 there was a small recession. Decrease in number of tourists is caused, first of all, by reduction, in comparison with last year, number coming on 40 % and leaving on 10 %, and also decrease in number served on internal tourism. Reduction of number of all categories of tourists is connected, first of all, with a world economic crisis which as a whole was negatively reflected in a condition of branch of tourism all over the world, and Kazakhstan didn't become an exception. Thus, for years of the state independence of Kazakhstan, a number of the major actions for formation of the national tourist industry, having huge potential of social efficiency was spent.

References:

1. Nikitinskij E.S., Vukolov V.N. Formation of the industry of tourism in Kazakhstan for years of the state independence // the Kazakh academy of sports and tourism. Materials of the international scientifical conference. Astana 2006/215 pg.

2. Оgienko N.A. Tourism, as means of knowledge of own civilization. Problems, ways of the decision // Kazakhstan: cognitive, estimated and applied problems. Materials of the international scientifical conference. Astana, 2006/450 pg.