THE ROLE OF KITF EXHIBITION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN KAZAKHSTAN

THE KAZAKHSTAN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXHIBITION KITF IS ONE OF THE KEY PROFESSIONAL PLATFORMS THAT SYSTEMATICALLY INFLUENCES THE DEVELOPMENT OF DOMESTIC, INBOUND, AND MICE TOURISM IN THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN.

For more than two decades, the exhibition has been an effective tool for the international promotion of the country and the formation of a sustainable tourist flow.

International promotion of Kazakhstan

KITF plays a significant role in positioning Kazakhstan in the international tourism arena. The exhibition annually attracts a significant number of foreign exhibitors and professional visitors from dozens of countries, many of whom come to Kazakhstan for the first time precisely because of their participation in KITF.

For a part of the international audience, KITF becomes the first point of contact with Kazakhstan as a tourist and business destination – otherwise these specialists might never have visited the country.

Economic impact and support of the hotel business

All international participants and visitors of the exhibition spend an average of 3 to 7 days in Kazakhstan. During this period, they:

they live in hotels,

They use public transport,

They visit restaurants,

they spend money on services and leisure.

During the KITF days, Almaty hotels traditionally demonstrate high occupancy, which confirms the direct impact of the exhibition on the hotel and service sector. Thus, KITF acts as a stable source of tourist demand and provides additional income for the hospitality industry in Kazakhstan.

KITF 2025 scale and statistics

In 2025, the exhibition has demonstrated significant international and professional reach.:

visitors from 36 countries of the world;

exhibitors with stands from 31 countries around the world;

5,556 unique visitors;

534 exhibiting companies;

2,073 participants (booth staff and company representatives);

The total number of participants and visitors is 9,702 people.

These indicators confirm KITF's status as one of the largest tourism events in the region and an important driver of inbound and MICE tourism.

Contribution to domestic tourism

The exhibition is actively attended by:

companies and organizations from the regions of Kazakhstan,

professional visitors from various regions of the country.

This contributes to the development of domestic tourism, the promotion of regional destinations, tourism products and services within the country, as well as the strengthening of business ties between the regions.

Long-term contribution to the country's tourist flow

The exhibition has been held since 2000, and in 2026 it will be held for the 24th time.

Over the years of its existence, KITF has become a stable annual tool for shaping the tourist flow, systematically contributing to the development of:

domestic tourism,

inbound tourism,

business and event (MICE) tourism in Kazakhstan.

Image and marketing effect

In addition to direct participants, the exhibition has a large-scale image impact.

Thousands of specialists around the world see and receive:

promotional materials,

announcements,

publications in international and industry media,

digital content and communications related to KITF.

Thus, the exhibition not only attracts participants to Kazakhstan, but also forms a stable international information background, promoting the country as a tourist, business and exhibition destination far beyond the actual number of guests.

The exhibition is organized by the Kazakh exhibition company Iteca, the leader of the Central Asian region in the field of organizing B2B events. For more than 30 years, the company has been organizing effective international industry exhibitions, forums and conferences.

Every year, more than 25 Iteca expo events attract international business representatives from 66 countries, and over 67,500 professionals from 100 countries attend the company's events throughout the year. This creates a steady international business and information flow to Kazakhstan and enhances its recognition on the world stage.

KITF, as part of the Iteca portfolio, is not a one-time event, but a systematic tool for the international promotion of the country, providing a long-term contribution to the development of domestic, inbound and MICE tourism in Kazakhstan.