Domestic tour sale platform to be established in Kazakhstan online
Kazakhstan Steps Up Its Digital Game for Boosting Domestic Tourism
Get ready to explore Kazakhstan like never before! The country is diving headfirst into the digital world to revamp its tourism sector, with a focus on making it easier than ever to book domestic travel packages and ensuring tour guides are up to par.
Yerjan Erkinbaev, Kazakh Tourism Chairperson, recently announced plans for an innovative online platform, where you'll find a wide array of enticing tour deals curated by the best tour operators. Purchasing your tour will be as straightforward as a few clicks, thanks to the platform's integration with popular, user-friendly services [1].
Key industry players like 'Kaspi', 'Forte', and 'Choco Travel' have expressed active support and interest in this project, which is set to launch by mid-summer.
But that's not all! Erkinbaev also emphasized the need for regulating tour guides due to current concerns about their knowledge, experience, and competence [2]. To tackle these issues, Kazakh Tourism is proposing an online system where guides will need to periodically verify their skills, build a personal profile showcasing their language proficiency, level of preparation, and tourist reviews, and carry a unique QR code for ease of identification [1].
In line with the digital revolution, Kazakhstan is also revising its standards for tourism services and hotels. Hotels will be labeled and rated based on clear, updated criteria, making it simpler for tourists to make informed decisions. Unfortunately, the current system allows hotels to self-assign star ratings, which hasn't been updated in over 13 years [3].
As if that wasn't enough, Kazakhstan is also embracing digital solutions in various other ways. Major cities are testing QR code systems to prevent tourists from being scammed by services such as taxis, communication, and currency exchange [1]. regional administrations are being given the green light to develop tourism infrastructure, including agritourism, to support rural economic growth [2].
Stay tuned as Kazakhstan continues to roll out these initiatives, with plans to extend the QR code system to all airports, railway stations, and border crossings, enhancing the E-Guides system, and pushing forward with digital platforms for tourism infrastructure development [4].
Sources:
- https://www.astanatimes.com/2021/02/qr-code-system-for-tourists-planned-in-some-cities-in-kazakhstan/
- https://tourism-review.com/kazakhstan-unveils-plans-to-develop-new-ecotourism-trail-system/
- https://www.kazinform.kz/ru/article/44446939
- https://www.kazpravda.kz/kazakhstan/economy/novo-29-03-2021-mangystauskie-oblasti-budut-primerom-digitizatsii-v-sphere-turizma
- Yerjan Erkinbaev, the Chairperson of Kazakh Tourism, plans to launch an online platform offering various tour deals, curated by top tour operators, for easier bookings.
- To address concerns about tour guide competence, Kazakh Tourism is developing an online system requiring guides to periodically verify their skills, build a professional profile, and carry a unique QR code for identification.
- In line with the digital revamp, Kazakhstan is updating criteria for tourism services and hotels, aiming to simplify decisions for tourists who currently face outdated hotel self-assigned star ratings.
- As part of its digital initiatives, major cities in Kazakhstan are testing QR code systems to help tourists avoid scams with taxis, communication, and currency exchange services.
- Regional administrations are being encouraged to develop tourism infrastructure, including agritourism, to support rural economic growth through digital solutions.
