BUSINESS PROGRAM KITF 2026: KEY ASPECTS OF THE TOURISM MARKET IN THE NEW REALITY TO BE DISCUSSED IN ALMATY

FROM APRIL 22 TO 24, 2026, THE 24TH KAZAKHSTAN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION 'TOURISM AND TRAVEL' - KITF 2026, THE LARGEST PROFESSIONAL EVENT IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY OF CENTRAL ASIA, WILL BE HELD IN ALMATY.

More than 400 companies from 20 countries are expected to participate, including Azerbaijan, Vietnam, Georgia, Egypt, India, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Cyprus, China, Maldives, Malaysia, UAE, Russia, Romania, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, South Korea, and Japan.

For more than two decades, KITF has served as the leading B2B platform for tourism industry professionals throughout the Central Asian region, bringing together tour operators, travel agencies, national tourism offices, airlines, hotel chains, representatives of medical and educational tourism, and other market players. The exhibition is an essential and anticipated industry event that gathers specialists to address and solve industry issues, present new solutions and tourist destinations, strengthen partnerships, and develop international cooperation.

Today, Kazakhstan has established itself as an economic, logistical, and tourism hub. In addition to successful international communications, the country is actively developing its internal infrastructure, improving service quality, enhancing international promotion, and attracting investments in the tourism industry. In a dynamic global situation, Kazakhstan demonstrates resilience and reliability, representing an independent platform for interaction between the tourism business community and business cooperation.

Special attention within the exhibition is traditionally given to the business program KITF Travel Forum, which brings together leading experts, business representatives, government structures, and international organizations to discuss and resolve current issues in tourism development.

April 22: Global challenges and new tourism routes

The central event of the day will be the plenary session 'Inbound and Domestic Tourism of Kazakhstan: Stability, Opportunities, and New Growth Points', where experts will discuss key trends in tourism development in the Eurasian space, investment opportunities in the industry, and prospects for forming new tourist routes in the current geopolitical situation.

Special attention will be given to the impact of global factors on the travel industry. As part of the anti-crisis case session 'Tourism in the Context of Geopolitical Risks: What to Do Right Now', representatives of tour operators, insurance companies, airlines, and relevant agencies will consider practical tools for adapting business to the changing international situation.

The practical aspects of managing a tourism business will be covered in the author's lecture 'Taxes. Finance. New Survival', where experts will analyze financial strategies for company resilience in a transforming market.

A separate aviation session 'Route Strategy 2026' will focus on the development of the international route network, new directions, and changes in demand structure from Kazakhstani tourists. Leading airlines will present plans for the development of medium-distance flights and new travel programs to Asian countries.

The first day will conclude with a panel discussion 'Season Routes: Charters, New Destinations, and the Tourism Package Economy 2026', where tour operators will share sales analytics and discuss destinations shaping the outbound tourism market.

Additionally, there will be a VISION TALK for travel bloggers, where media representatives will discuss which destinations are becoming most accessible for Kazakhstani tourists, which countries are gaining popularity, and how travel culture is changing among new generations.

April 23: Technology, Safety, and the Future of the Profession

The second day of the forum will be dedicated to the transformation of the tourism market, new technologies, and the changing role of industry professionals. One of the central themes will be the discussion 'Who Will Sell Travel Tomorrow? New Sales Architecture: Travel Agent, Artificial Intelligence, or Marketplace', where experts will discuss the impact of digital technologies and platform economy on tourism sales.

Great attention will be paid to issues of trust and protection of tourists. The panel session 'Safety and Trust 2026' will bring together representatives of insurance companies, tour operators, and industry organizations to discuss crisis management in tourism and mechanisms for protecting tourists in unusual situations.

As part of the Public Talk 'The Future of Sports Tourism: From Arenas to the 'Games of the Future'', experts will discuss the growing role of sports events in forming new tourist flows - from marathons and outdoor festivals to international tournaments and new formats of phygital competitions.

Another important topic will be the development of inbound tourism. As part of the industry discussion 'The Great Transformation of Inbound Tourism', participants will consider the key factors determining the growth of tourist flow in Kazakhstan: the availability of air connections, the quality of the tourist product, and the level of service.

Special attention will be given to the professional community: in the open microphone format 'The Future of the Profession: Why Does a Tourist Need a Travel Agent in 2026', practicing specialists will discuss the transformation of the profession and the role of expert support in the era of independent travel.

The second day will conclude with a master class 'Marketing in Uncertainty', dedicated to modern tools for promoting tourism products and adapting marketing strategies to rapidly changing market conditions.

The event is officially supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Akimat of Almaty city, JSC 'National Company 'Kazakh Tourism', Kompas company, and the 'Kazakhstan Tourism Association'.

The business program partner is Trand Buro company.

The event is organized by the Kazakhstan exhibition company Iteca and its international partner - ICA Events Group.

You can find the conditions of attendance and register on the official exhibition website: https://kitf.kz/ru/