Sustainable tourism? Impediments of building a viable tourism industry in Kazakhstan: case study of Ile-Alatau National Park

Abstract

This study focuses on deeper understanding of tourism industry in Kazakhstan, particularly obstacles and possibilities for future development of Kazakhstan’s tourism industry. The policy analysis further argues that Kazakhstan needs to develop sustainable tourism due to stagnant and ineffective nature of current tourism development path in Kazakhstan. In order to avoid harmful effects of tourism development to environment, socio-cultural values of the host country for the economic benefit, we derive issues and barriers that has to be addressed through policy initiatives. Ile-Alatau National Park were chosen as an example of popular tourist destination in Kazakhstan which underwent significant environmental and economic decline during the 2000s