Almaty Gains Global Recognition: Rankings, Awards, and Prospects

Almaty continues to strengthen its position as one of Central Asia’s leading tourist destinations, attracting attention from global media, rating agencies, and tourism experts. In 2023–2024, the city was featured in several prestigious international rankings.

Almaty ranked 308th in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) ranking, rising 69 positions compared to the pre-COVID year of 2019. In early 2024, The New York Times included Almaty in its list of the world’s 52 best travel destinations, placing it 25th — the only representative from Central Asia. The British magazine Wanderlust also listed Kazakhstan among the top 24 must-visit destinations, with a special emphasis on Almaty.

Almaty was also recognized as one of the best destinations for ski tourism. Condé Nast Traveller Italia recommended the city as a key winter travel spot, and the “Shymbulak” resort set a Guinness World Record for the highest night skiing slope in the world, also being named the best resort in the CIS by the SKI BUSINESS AWARDS 2023.

Almaty's culinary scene also earned global attention. The restaurant Ayul was nominated for the Building of the Year 2024 award for outstanding architecture, and Tör was listed among recommended places to visit by The New York Times. Furthermore, the prestigious Prix Versailles named Aýul one of the 16 most beautiful new restaurants in the world in 2024.

The city also demonstrates strong economic potential: according to Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index, Almaty ranked 260th among the world’s 1,000 largest urban economies, outperforming cities such as Doha, Krakow, Buenos Aires, and Shanghai.

Almaty’s popularity continues to grow in 2025. CNN Travel named the city one of the top 25 travel destinations of the year, calling it the new “style capital” of Central Asia. Among the city’s key strengths are its unique “Neo Nomad” cuisine, rich cultural heritage, and proximity to the Tian Shan mountains.

International recognition confirms Almaty’s status as a fast-developing tourist hub, capable of attracting travelers from all over the world.