Kazakh Tourism proposes introducing a sustainable tourism model in Katon-Karagai
Kazakh Tourism is developing a plan for the sustainable development of tourism in the Katon-Karagai district of East Kazakhstan region. The main focus is proposed to be a shift from mass tourism to an environmentally responsible approach. This will help preserve the region’s natural authenticity, control tourist flow, and create a high-quality tourism product.
The proposed model envisions the development of environmentally conscious and limited tourism in the Katon-Karagai district. This includes limiting the number of tourists, developing exclusive tourism products, and increasing the average length of stay from 3 days to two weeks. One of the additional measures may include the introduction of an environmental fee, the proceeds of which will be directed toward nature conservation and the development of tourism infrastructure. In the long term, Katon-Karagai is considered as an eco-destination with international Green Destination certification.
«Katon-Karagai, in terms of size and biodiversity, is comparable to national parks such as Banff in Canada and Yellowstone in the United States. Our vision is that tourism in Katon-Karagai should not be mass tourism. It should be as environmentally friendly as possible and aimed at conscious travelers who treat nature with care. Currently, there is no infrastructure in the area that can accommodate 200,000–300,000 tourists annually, and this is important to understand. Limiting the flow and increasing the duration of stay will ensure socio-economic and environmental sustainability. At the same time, we will have the opportunity to reduce the load on infrastructure and effectively manage the tourist flow through limitations», - said deputy chairman of the Management Board of «Kazakh Tourism» NC JSC, Danial Serzhanuly.
A successful example being considered is the sustainable tourism model of the Kingdom of Bhutan. In this country, there is a system for regulating tourist flow, and each visitor pays for a tour package in advance. This ensures control over the environmental load and directs funds toward ecosystem preservation.
