KITF 2019 GENERATED GREAT INTEREST AMONG INDUSTRY SPECIALISTS

Today, on April 17th, in Almaty, the 19th Kazakhstan International Exhibition Tourism and Travel - KITF 2019 was successfully opened. The exposition has gathered together about 350 companies from 27 countries with shopping options to Charming Asia, Tempting Orient, Dynamic Europe, and the Mediterranean.

It is expected that the exhibition will be visited by 5,000 visitors, who will conclude about 1,200 contracts and agreements at KITF 2019, a quarter of these - with Kazakhstani properties, said Maxat Kikimov, Head of Tourism Department for Almaty city, in his speech. “KITF 2019 is the main event of Almaty city. I am sure, this platform serves for the development of domestic and inbound tourism,” - he added during the KITF 2019 opening ceremony.

KITF is the only business platform in the field of tourism and travel, which gives objective data about tourism market and allow not only to promote tourist products but also shape and solve issues of the industry as a whole.

The success of the exhibition is proved by the fact of the presence of the record number of foreign delegations compared to other exhibitions: officials from state bodies of Kazakhstan, heads of major companies, heads of tourist associations. The event was visited by the ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Egypt, India, Cuba, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Malaysia, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, Czech, Uzbekistan, South Korea and so on.

Speakers have noticed the importance of KITF exhibition for the Central Asia tourist industry. Yerlan Muratov, Head of Tourism Department for Akmolisnkaya region, voiced his belief, that the exhibition will give an impetus for the development of tourism in Kazakhstan and will facilitate development of cultural and tourist relationships between countries. According to Rashida Shaikenova, Director of the Kazakhstan Tourist Association: “Tourism is an Ambassador of the world. Moreover, the number of the diplomatic corps representatives is the unambiguous sing of the KITF exhibition status.”

Special attention at KITF 2019 was paid to inbound and domestic tourism. Sixteen regions of Kazakhstan have offered their tourist products to professional visitors, including Alakol lake, the mountain ski resort in Almatinskaya region, Bayanaul, the offshore resort at the Caspian sea, Shchuchinsko-Borovskaya resort area, Turkestan region and so on.

The round table on the promotion of Kazakhstan as a travel destination ALGA KAZAKHSTAN discussed issues on industry development, its results for 2018, plans, opportunities within the frame of the collective activity of all interested organizations and successful cases in the industry development program on the experience of Georgia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan.

Also, today, Department of Tourism for Akmolinskaya region has concluded tree memoranda with the Department of Entrepreneurship and Tourism of the North Kazakhstan region, Department of Tourism and International Relations of Turkestanskaya region, Department of Tourism and International Relations of Shymkent city. Also, the Visit Aqmola Tourist Information Center of Akmolinskaya region has concluded memoranda with the State Municipal Management Organization “Almaty Regional Center of Tourism and Information Services of the State Establishment “Department of Tourism for Almatinskaya region”, and with the Municipal Institution “Tourist Information Center “Turkistan Tourism Center” of the Department of Tourism for Turkestanskaya region.

Particular attention should be paid to the intensive business program of the exhibition. The program includes the completely new formats of events - starting from interactive platforms, discussion zones, and B2B meetings, to galleries and festival of national cuisines. New speakers and new subjects have made the event content even more powerful and exciting. In total, during the three days of the exhibition there will be 33 events: round tables, forums, workshops and presentation from participating companies, Taste&Travel Fest, Job Fair, B2B meeting for buyers, Forum of travelers, KITF Travel Tech, artisans fair, and other interesting and useful events.

The new buyers’ program for Almaty has gathered on its platform 20 invited buyers from the CIS and non-CIS countries, who now can sell tours to Kazakhstan in their countries.

Tomorrow, on April 18th, there will be a KITF Travel Tech Forum covering subjects on online vs. offline tourism, digital future in tourism, marketing tools and solutions for tourist business.

Also, the Discussion Club on Medical Tourism will take place tomorrow. Speakers will discuss global trends in medical tourism, the vision of the Kazakhstani medical tourism, health resort treatment in Kazakhstan, and other subjects.

The Almaty Travel Fest Forum of Travelers will take place on April 19th, and gather together travel enthusiasts, professional travelers, travel-photographers, travel-bloggers and journalists, outdoor enthusiasts, and travel industry representatives.

During the third day, Nikolai Karassev, Director General of the Expo Effect Exhibition Consulting Agency, who was specially invited for the participants, will have special training for exponents.

Annually KITF is held with the official support of specialized agencies: Akimat of Almaty city, Visit Almaty, Kazakhstan Tourist Association, Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs.

The organizer of the event is Iteca company together with its international partner ITE Group Plc (Great Britain).

Official partners of the exhibition is Department of Tourism for Akmolinskaya region, and Cornelia Hotels Golf & Spa.