Kazakhstan plans to invest $1.5 billion in image projects for its
resorts, RIA Novosti reports, citing the head of the Department of
Sport and Tourism of Astana Nurlan Zhanibek.
In New York, Astana presented a tourism presentation. Zhanibek said
that tourism is one of the three key investment projects of Kazakhstan
among raw materials and sports industry. The Winter Asian Games 2011
will be one of the main steps.
Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sport said that in 2009 approximately
800,000 foreign tourists visited the country. In the last 2-3 years
Kazakhstan started an active PR campaign in Germany, Zhanibek said.
He noted that the country is also trying to attract Russian tourists
by developing ski resorts and gambling business, in particular the
Borovoye recreation zone. Borovoye built approximately 20 modern
hotels and casinos in the last years.
According to Zhanibek, Astana will work on improving its image with
the goal of hosting the Winter Olympic Games in 2030.
