Welcome Letters 2017
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, Colleagues and friends,
On behalf of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the specialized agency of the United Nations in the field of tourism, I am very pleased to welcome the global tourism community to the 17th Kazakhstan International Exhibition for Tourism and Travel - KITF 2017.
In 2016, international tourism grew by 4%, the seventh consecutive year at above average rates. International arrivals surpassed 1.2 billion (1,235 million), bringing benefits to communities, economies and societies all around the world. And most importantly, despite all challenges that we are currently facing, we are living the longest uninterrupted period of solid growth in international tourist arrivals since 1960.
Furthermore, we are proud to celebrate 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, designated by the UN General Assembly. This year represents a unique opportunity for all of us to come together to promote the contribution of tourism to a better future for people and planet. We are also shining light on what needs to be done for tourism to fulfil its potential as a pillar of sustainable development.
In this context, it is essential the role that international tourism fairs and exhibitions are taking in significantly contributing to tourism development.
The Kazakhstan International Tourism and Travel Exhibition KITF 2017 serves as a professional platform that brings together representatives of the tourism industry in Kazakhstan and Central Asia and gives the opportunity to tourism stakeholders to showcase new tourist products and services in the region.
UNWTO continues to support KITF in recognition of its value as a powerful platform to promote tourism products amongst the global community and foster high-level bilateral cooperation in tourism between the public and private sectors.
I sincerely wish the participants and guests of the 17th Kazakhstan International Exhibition for Tourism and Travel success and productive work during KITF 2017!
Zoltan Somogyi
UNWTO Executive Director for Programme and Coordination
Dear visitors and participants of KITF 2017!
Kazakhstan Tourism Association (KTA) is glad to welcome everyone at the 17th Kazakhstan International Tourism Exhibition KITF 2017!
Tourism is the important industry for development of Kazakhstan economy. The main objective is to create modern highly efficient and competitive tourism product in the country to become the basis for providing conditions for development of tourism as a branch of economy, integration into the global market system and development of further cooperation in the area of tourism. Such professional events as KITF Exhibition, which will be held in Almaty for the seventieth time already, serve a significant purpose in efficient advancement of Kazakhstan as an attractive tourist destination and implementation of measures for sustainable development of republican tourism industry.
Considering the fact that Kazakhstan is in possession of a unique natural potential, we have all the opportunities for developing different kinds of tourism: cultural and educational, business, health tourism and many others. Every year KITF demonstrates the great tourism potential of our country. Its expositions represent tourism opportunities of the regional Departments of Tourism, Physical Culture and Sports, shows perspectives and priorities of domestic and inbound tourism development. Alongside with the tourism potential of Kazakhstan, KITF represents the latest trends of the summer tourism season.
With all my heart, I wish all the partners, participants and visitors of the exhibition to enjoy useful encounters, efficient negotiations, cheerful attitude and great success in the summer tourism season 2017!
R. Shaikenova
Director, Kazakhstan Tourism Association (KTA)
Dear participants and guests of the
17th Tourism and Travel Fair - KITF 2017!
On behalf of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan “Atameken” I would like to welcome you to the largest tourist area of our country!
The annually increasing scale of the exhibition and the growth of the number of participants prove that this event is important and obligatory for tourism professionals.
Nowadays, when tourism products are actively developing on the Great Silk Road, there is one more important direction – the point of growth for Kazakhstan tour operators – the development of near-border tourism. The potential of this market is huge, given the length of the borders and the population of the near-border regions of neighboring countries. There is also an interest in the development of cruise tourism in the Caspian Sea area.
The forthcoming International Exhibition “Astana-EXPO-2017” is another point of attraction for inbound tourism this year. Tours, including visits to the exhibition, attract the interest of foreign tourists. Also, cultural and educational tours in Almaty and South-Kazakhstan regions, business tourism in Astana and Almaty, mountaineering tourism and mountaineering, ecological tours and tours to Baikonur are traditionally in demand. It is important to competently promote and sell in the domestic and international markets all the potential that exists in Kazakhstan’s tourism.
Let me wish all participants of the exhibition quality growth, achieving new professional heights, active and fruitful work at the exhibition!
Best regards,
Member of the Board
Deputy Chairman of the Board
Yu. Yakupbayeva
Dear guests, organizers and exhibitors of KITF!
On behalf of the UNESCO Almaty Cluster Office for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, I would like to welcome all the participants and guests of the 17th Kazakhstan International “Tourism and Travel” Exhibition.
When proclaiming 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the UN General Assembly noted “the importance of international tourism in fostering better understanding among peoples everywhere, in leading to a greater awareness of the rich heritage of various civilizations, thereby contributing to the strengthening of peace in the world”.
UNESCO promotes the development of sustainable tourism on the basis of the cultural and natural assets of its member countries: the World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Geoparks represent incredible opportunities for the development of tourism. However, these assets need to be managed responsibly and sustainably, and every effort needs to be made to avoid the possible negative impact of tourism.
In this regard, the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development is an opportunity to strengthen the positive dynamics between cultural and natural heritage and tourism. It also allows to increase people’s interest towards the heritage of their own country as well as raise their awareness of the rich heritage of different cultures and civilizations, thus contributing to the strengthening of peace in the world.
Sustainable tourism calls for new partnerships to better educate and inform, to foster new behaviors among all tourism stakeholders. This spirit guides the cooperation between the UNESCO Almaty Cluster Office and the KITF-2017 to ensure that sustainable tourism is a catalyst for positive change in Kazakhstan and in Central Asia as a whole.
Krista Pikkat
Director, UNESCO Cluster Office in Almaty and
UNESCO Representative to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
Dear ladies and gentlemen,
On behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Republic of Kazakhstan I would like to welcome all participants of the 17th International Travel and Tourism Fair in Almaty.
Over the years the exhibition has established itself as one of the most prestigious event in the region of Central Asia and has a growing popularity among the representatives of the tourism business and the public in the country and abroad.
As an approved and attractive place of summer, winter, resort, cultural and historical tourism for foreign tourists, Bulgaria is interested in enhanced cooperation in the tourism sector with Kazakhstan and with the region of Central Asia. In this regard, I would like to emphasize that in 2017 Bulgaria will be represented at the exhibition by the National Information Stand with the participation of Bulgarian tourist companies, who will present the Bulgarian tourism, as well as the possibility of expanding cooperation with Kazakhstan and foreign partners.
I am sure that excellent conditions for work and presentations created by Kazakhstan International Tourism and Travel Fair, will provide a spark to the development and strengthening of tourism ties between fraternal people of Bulgaria and Kazakhstan.
I wish all participants, organizers and guests of the exhibition fruitful work, effective cooperation, creation of sustainable partnerships and further success in achieving your goals!
Vasil Petkov
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the Republic of Bulgaria
in the Republic of Kazakhstan
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!
On behalf of the Trade Representation of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Kazakhstan I would like to welcome all participants and guests of the 17th Kazakhstan International Tourism and Travel Fair – “KITF 2017”.
Russia and Kazakhstan have a huge tourist potential. The diversity of people and culture, beautiful natural landscapes, unique objects of national and world cultural and historical heritage - all these have become fertile ground for the emergence of the most dynamically developing sector of the national economy, which largely determines social and economic progress. The development of the tourism industry contributes to the improvement of transport, cultural and entertainment and recreational opportunities of our countries, creation of new jobs and development of local infrastructure and, as a result, it becomes an important element of economic modernization.
Holding similar exhibitions helps to acquire new knowledge, to learn and adopt the best practices in the tourism development industry, contributes to the expansion of cooperation and improving the quality of the international contacts.
We are encouraged by the presence of the Russian companies at the exhibition - it is an embodiment of close historical bonds, which connects our countries, of great interest in the cultural and natural riches of the both countries. Tourism is the most important means of strengthening friendship and mutual understanding of people.
We wish all participants, organisers and guests fruitful work, effective interaction, sustainable partnerships, good luck, prosperity and success in achieving the goals!
Trade Representative
of the Russian Federation
in the Republic of Kazakhstan
A.V. Yakovlev
Dear participants and visitors of KITF!
On behalf of the organisers we traditionally welcome you to the 17th Tourism and Travel Fair - KITF 2017, which annually opens the spring-summer tourist season of Kazakhstan market on the specialized platform in Almaty.
KITF, as an independent instrument of domestic and business tourism, promotes and reveals the tourist potential of Almaty and of the whole country. During the exhibition, it is possible to use the entire potential of the city for reception, accommodation and services for visitors and participants of the international event. KITF, annually demonstrates clearly this fact. Every spring, for 17 years experts and professionals, companies and official delegations from all over the world have been gathering for the event, the exhibition KITF, expected by the whole tourist society, providing Almaty with potential consumers of tourism and related services. Based on the information requested in 3* -5* hotels of Almaty, the hotels in this period are 100% occupied.
The general exposition is traditionally opened by the kaleidoscope of unique and vivid offers of the domestic market of Kazakhstan tourism represented by the hosting city - Almaty and Almaty region, as well as representatives of all regional Tourism Departments headed by the Ministry of Culture and Sport. The general exposition this year represents the companies from more than 30 countries of the world, 22 of which participate with the national stands.
On behalf of the organisers of the exhibition, we are happy to express our gratitude to the Ministry of Culture and Sport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, to the international organizations and official missions of all countries, as well as to the official partners providing support to KITF this year. We are confident that KITF will become a platform for fruitful international cooperation, enabling specialists to analyze, plan, optimize activities and lay the foundation for quality cooperation in general for the current year.
We sincerely wish all participants of the exhibition the most fruitful meetings, profitable contacts and lucrative contracts within the exhibition! For Visitors and Guests - only attractive offers, efficiency and effectiveness following the results of the exhibition!
Welcome to the 17th Kazakhstan International Tourism and Travel Fair, KITF 2017!
Director of “Iteca” LLP
Yuri Borodikhin
