Welcome Letters 2011
Dear Exhibitors and Guests,
On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, I am happy to welcome you to the Kazakhstan International Tourism Fair KITF 2011.
Such international events contribute to the formation and enhancement of the country’s tourist image, promotion of the national culture and national tourist product.
The economic growth of Kazakhstan and development of the national potential over the years of political and economic reforms as well as steps taken to deepen cooperation with the UN World Tourism Organisation have expanded the country’s tourist connections.
I would like to emphasise the fact that tourism today is identified as an important sector of economy.
In pursuance of the State Programme for Accelerated Industrial and Innovation Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2010-2014 approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan as of 19 March 2010, the Government, in partnership with the business community, has been taking measures to develop tourism infrastructure across Kazakhstan, including establishment of international tourist centres: Zhana Ile in Almaty, Burabai in Akmola, and Kenderli in Mangystau Oblasts, and a tourist cluster along the West Europe-China international transport corridor.
Besides, major efforts are taken to attract foreign tourists to Kazakhstan and enhance the country’s investment appeal.
“Best of the Best” – this is how Kazakhstan’s purposeful work was assessed at ITB, the major international exhibition, that took place in March 2011 in Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany.
The policies pursued by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.A. Nazarbayev ensure sustainable development of Kazakhstan and further strengthening of its international authority.
Kazakhstan has become recognisable in all corners of the globe and the country’s tourism sector continues making its contribution to this process.
I am sure that the exhibition will help all of us to acquire new knowledge, study and adopt advanced experience in shaping sustainable tourism development, give a powerful impetus to further development of an appealing tourist image of Kazakhstan, and increase the number of tourist business professionals.
I wish the exhibitors and guests of the event interesting and useful meetings and fruitful work for the sake of tourism development!
Talgat Ermegiyaev
Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear colleagues and friends,
On behalf of the World Tourism Organization, the specialized United Nations agency in the field of tourism, I would like to welcome all participants, organizers and guests of the 11th Kazakhstan International Tourism Fair “KITF 2011” and wish all of you good luck and success.
International travel fairs such as KITF continue to be an important tool for building and strengthening business relations. It is with great satisfaction that we observe the continuous growth of KITF and its positioning as the largest international tourism and travel exhibition in Kazakhstan. Today, tourism generates 5% of the world’s GDP; 30% of the world’s exports of services and one in 12 of the world’s jobs. It continues to be one of the world’s largest, fastest growing industries and the dominant service sector.
International tourism recovered strongly in 2010. International tourist arrivals were up by almost 7% to 935 million, following the 4% decline in 2009 – the year hardest hit by the global economic crisis. The vast majority of destinations worldwide posted positive figures, sufficient to offset recent losses or bring them close to this target. Though recovery came at different speeds and was primarily driven by emerging economies, tourism showed that it can lead a new decade of fairer, stronger and more sustainable growth and can become one of the most effective agents of development.
In recent years, Kazakhstan has made significant progress in promoting its image as an attractive, tourism-friendly and dynamic Eurasian destination. The country has enormous potential for cultural, natural-based and meetings tourism due to its geographic attributes, its fascinating history, its location on the Silk Road and its great ability to host high level international events like the recent successful Winter Asian Games – Asiada 2011.
UNWTO looks forward to continuing its close cooperation with Kazakhstan in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
I wish all of the participants in the 11th Kazakhstan International Tourism Exhibition every success!
Zoltan Somogyi
Executive Director
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
Dear Exhibitors and Guests of the Exhibition,
On behalf of the Almaty City Akimat, I am happy to welcome the guests of our city, exhibitors and organisers of the 11th Kazakhstan International Tourism and Travel Exhibition - KITF 2011!
Over the past 11 years, KITF Exhibition has become one of the most awaited tourist events in our city during which tourist industry professionals from all continents of the world come together in Almaty and a considerable intensification of tourist activities of both our city dwellers and people of the country on the whole is observed.
The diversity of tourist products and destinations annually presented at KITF Exhibition allows keeping informed about recreation opportunities almost in every corner of the world without leaving the city, tracing the latest trends in the tourist industry, and enhancing Kazakhstan tourist companies’ capabilities to shape the most interesting tour packages for the people of Kazakhstan.
KITF 2011 demonstrates an ever increasing interest of international tour operators in the tourist market of our country and the growing potentialities of domestic tourism which is testified to by the list of countries and companies represented at the Exhibition.
I wish all exhibitors and guests of the exhibition great success at this professional event, meetings and negotiations efficient to the maximum possible extent, profitable contracts and proposals!
Yerbol Shormanov
Almaty City Deputy Akim
