The region includes: Shchuchinsk-Borovskaya resort area (state national natural park "Burabay"), Zerendinskaya resort area (state national natural park "Kokshetau"), state national natural park "Buiratau" and Korgalzhyn state nature reserve.
There are more than 650 tourism enterprises in the region (389 accommodation facilities, 15 health resorts, 196 roadside service entities, 76 travel agencies (27 tour operator profile, 49 travel agent profile), licensed to carry out tourism activities).
The results of 2023 are characterized by positive dynamics
in key tourism indicators:
- the total tourist flow of the region amounted to 1,348.7 thousand people with an increase of 106% compared to 2022 (including the number of people staying in accommodation facilities - 504.5 thousand people; vacationers in health resort organizations - 33.6 thousand people; the number of people visiting national parks - 847.5 thousand people);
- accommodation facilities provided services in the amount of 21.1 billion tenge with an increase of 123% (2022 - 17.2 billion tenge);
- the volume of tax revenues in 2023 amounted to 3.5 billion tenge with an increase of 21% (2022 - 2.9 billion tenge); – the share of tourism in the region’s GRP is 0.4% (1.4% taking into account the consumer sector).
Statistical data for the first 9 months of 2024:
– the number of accommodation facilities in the region was 389 units with 6,309 rooms (January-September 2023 – 5,601 rooms, an increase of 113%);
– the one-time capacity was 16,620 beds (January-September 2023 – 14,659 beds, an increase of 113%);
– accommodation facilities provided services worth 21.5 billion tenge, an increase of 130% (January-September 2023 – 16.5 billion tenge);
– the number of visitors served by accommodation facilities was 420.2 thousand people (January-September 2023 – 404.2 thousand people, an increase of 104%);
- the number of domestic tourists served by accommodation facilities amounted to 404.7 thousand people (January-September 2023 - 388.3 thousand people, an increase of 104%);
- the number of inbound tourists served by accommodation facilities amounted to 15.4 thousand people (January-September 2023 - 15.8 thousand people, a decrease of 3%);
- the tourist flow to the region amounted to 997.3 thousand tourists, including 420.2 thousand people served by accommodation facilities; 577.1 thousand visitors to specially protected natural areas;
– tax revenues to the budget (55 OKED) amounted to 3.1 billion tenge with growth (January-September 2023 - 2.1 billion tenge), revenues for 10 months of 2024 to the local budget were 2.6 billion tenge (including direct tax revenues - 2.5 billion tenge, non-tax revenues and sale of fixed assets - 0.1 billion tenge);
– the volume of investment in fixed assets - 21.3 billion tenge (budget - 9.1 billion tenge, private - 12.2 billion tenge);
– 74 jobs were created.
In the region, 5 projects were implemented for a total of 2.2 billion tenge:
– construction of the recreation area "Atyrau Avenue" in the Burabay district for the amount of 0.5 billion tenge (LLP "Atyrau Avenue");
– construction of the Orman Park recreation area in the Tselinograd district for the amount of 0.3 billion tenge (TOO Max Development);
– construction of a recreation area in the Tselinograd district (IP Turar) for the amount of 0.5 billion tenge;
– construction of a recreation area in the Akkol district for the amount of 0.2 billion tenge (IP Raushan);
– construction of the Tary Burabay ethno-coffee shop on Lake Borovoe for the amount of 0.7 billion tenge (TOO Tary Burabay).
In 2023, 12 applications for subsidizing part of the costs of business entities in the tourism sector were reviewed and supported.
In 2024, 110.6 million tenge were allocated for the provision of systemic measures of state support in the field of tourism, approved in February 2023, including from the Republic of Belarus - 31.3 million tenge, from the Oblast - 79.3 million tenge. All funds were paid in February of this year. In 2024, the regional commission for consideration of the provision of state support measures to 3 business entities (recreation center of Wellness & Resort LLC (120.0 million tenge), hotel complex in the resort area of Aqbura of Aqbura Development LLC (526.7 million tenge), health and wellness complex with apartments of Sirius Plus LLC (308.9 million tenge)) approved state support measures in the amount of 955.6 million tenge. According to the conducted audit of the implementation of projects for the construction of engineering infrastructure, including treatment facilities, wastewater disposal and heating networks in the territory of the Shchuchinsk-Borovskaya resort area, the priority of 7 unfinished engineering infrastructure projects was determined, which are included in the draft Comprehensive Plan for the Development of the Burabay Resort for 2025-2029:
- construction of intra-quarter sewer networks in Shchuchinsk (1098.0 million tenge);
- reconstruction of networks and wastewater disposal facilities in Shchuchinsk (879.0 million tenge);
- reconstruction and construction of main water supply networks (4th stage) in Shchuchinsk (861.0 million tenge);
- construction of a wastewater disposal network (III stage), collector and sewage pumping stations in the village of Burabay (823.0 million tenge);
– construction of treatment facilities in the village of Burabay (commissioning works) (526.9 million tenge);
– construction of water supply systems for children's health centers located in the area of Lake Katarkol (1,127.0 million tenge);
– construction of water disposal networks and facilities in the village of Katarkol (445.4 million tenge).
Funds for the implementation of 4 projects in the amount of 2.7 billion tenge will be allocated for 2025 (local budget).
This year within the framework of the implementation of the project "Reconstruction and construction of main water supply networks (4th stage) of the city of Shchuchinsk" a cut-in was made into the existing water supply networks (it is planned to build 113.6 km of networks, of which 100 km have been laid, 1800 units of 2020 wells have been installed), which solved the issue of water supply for residents of 3 microdistricts of the city of Shchuchinsk (Senobaza, Kamenny quarry, Meat processing plant). In addition, a partial replacement of water supply networks in the village of Katarkol was carried out; 3 km of emergency networks of the Shchuchinsk collector were replaced. Thus, their wear was reduced by 30%.
A major overhaul of 20 km of the Burabay-Katarkol highway has been completed.
Also in 2024, the construction of an observation deck began in the city of Shchuchinsk (TV tower area, cost - 117 million tenge).
As part of the preparation for the summer season, 28 garbage sites, 279 stationary urns ((124 - MIO, 155 - GNNP), including along pedestrian and car paths), 80 benches, 35 barbecue areas were installed in the village of Burabay and on the territory of the national park.
Reference: 35 units of picnic areas (26 units with a fire, 9 units without a fire) are located along the coast of the lakes Bolshoe and Maly Chebachye, as well as from "Rakushka" to the Ablai Khan glade:
- 16 picnic areas (with a fire) - around the lake. B. Chebachye;
– 10 picnic areas (with campfire) – around Lake M. Chebachye;
– 9 picnic areas (without campfire) – from “Rakushka” to the Ablai Khan glade.
In June of this year, 10 new picnic areas were additionally equipped (2 – near the village of Katarkol, 3 – around Lake M. Chebachye, 5 – around Lake B. Chebachye).
18.3 million tenge were allocated from the local budget for the improvement and sanitary cleaning of the village of Burabay (sanitary cleaning – 8.3 million tenge, improvement and landscaping – 10.0 million tenge).
For the comfortable stay of tourists in the summer period the following were in operation:
– Burabay: 88 sanitary and hygienic units (5 – Burabay settlement, 1 – JSC NC KazAvtoZhol, 7 – LLP Burabay-Damu, 74 – tenants of the State National Park);
– ZKZ: 3 stationary sanitary and hygienic units (3 – village Zerenda).
To increase the investment attractiveness of the regional akimat, the akimat developed a draft program for the development of entrepreneurship "Aqmola Tourism" in the following areas (operator – JSC SPK KOKSHE):
Also, the digitization of master plans of settlements in the resort area is being carried out (for the city of Shchuchinsk, at the stage of completion (TOO GeodeziyaZemProekt, Shymkent, cost - 6.6 million, completion in December of this year); for the villages of Sarybulak, Katarkol, Zeleny Bor - by the end of the year (TOO Izysk Proekt, total cost for 3 settlements - 10.7 million tenge, completion in December of this year).
In 2025, 136.0 million tenge are allocated for the digitalization of general plans for the remaining settlements of the Burabay district.
As part of the development of small aviation, from June 2025, sightseeing helicopter excursions will be launched in the resort area (Robison R44 helicopter, capacity 3 passengers) along the route Burabay - Shchuchinsk - Katarkol (cost 90-120 thousand tenge / 15 min.). Helicopter excursions were tested on September 27, 2024 on aircraft of Aviation Educational and Training Center LLC. Currently, the akimat is selecting a land plot for the construction of an airfield and a helipad. The issue of opening domestic flights on the Astana-Burabay route is also being worked out (on Piper PA34 Seneca, Cessna 206 aircraft, with a capacity of 13 to 20 people).
In places of service, stationary posts of the modular type "TYRISTIK POLITSIIA" with computer equipment connected to the information systems of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan have been installed.
2,570 consultations were provided to vacationers to explain the location of social or cultural facilities, issuing permits for climbing mountains, smoking areas, parking, taxis, etc. (Burabay - 1,820 consultations, Zerenda - 750 consultations).
Registration and registration of foreign tourists is carried out in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, through the information systems of the web portal of the "electronic government", the State Corporation, as well as through the mobile application "E-qonaq" specially developed for this purpose. Since the beginning of the year, there have been no complaints from foreign tourists about violations of rights and freedoms, and no victims of criminal and illegal attacks have been registered.
Fire safety in the Shchuchinsk-Borovskaya resort area is provided by 5 fire departments of the Shchuchinsk Fire Service and 45 units of fire-fighting equipment, 3 of which were built in 2010 according to a standard design for 6 departures.
In addition, in the village of Burabay, the existing fire station (area is 0.4362 hectares) is significantly outdated and today it is necessary to build a "Fire station complex for 2 type V vehicles" that complies with building codes (SP RK 2.02-105-2014) for the design of fire service facilities in populated areas with a population of up to 5 thousand people.
In the territory of the Zerenda resort area, fire safety is provided by Fire Station No. 14 (hereinafter referred to as FS-14), which is equipped with 5 units of fire-fighting equipment (3 main and 2 auxiliary). Major repairs of the fire station were carried out in 2013. In order to strengthen the material and technical base of FS-14, the Akimat of the Zerenda District purchased a van on a Gazelle (Sobol) chassis.
This year, at the expense of local executive bodies, design and estimate documentation is being developed for the construction of 4 fire station buildings (Tselinograd District - the villages of Koyandy and Karaotkel for 2 vehicles, the village of Akmol - for 4 vehicles. Zerenda District - the village of Zerenda for 2 vehicles).
To popularize tourist locations, 30 major events were held this year (including 13 international events, 11 events of the republican format, 6 events of the regional format). Reference:
Major events in 2024:
Open Championship of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Ski Tourism Technique and the stage of the Republic of Kazakhstan Cup in Tourist All-Around; Ice race on the flat ice of the bay of Lake Borovoe and around the stone island of Zhumbaktas "BURABAY ICE 2024"; The Year of Tourism of Kazakhstan in China in Beijing, as part of the opening, important events organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports took place; "ROAD-SHOW" in the cities of Aktau and Shymkent; took part in the 22nd Kazakhstan International Exhibition "Tourism and Travel" KITF 2024; Republican environmental campaign "Taza Kazakhstan"; Tourist rally "Zerenda 2024. Your own path"; "Kokshetau Digital Hackathon 1.0" in the direction of logo design, video advertising and IT; International race "Aqbura bay trail-4"; Swim X-WATERS Kazakhstan 2024; International Gathering "NOMADS CAMP"; Festival DRIVE FORUM BURABAY 2024; Open regional tourist gathering "Autumn leaf fall"; Launch of the first air excursion route over the resort of Burabay; Ceremonial event "Aqmola Tourism Event"; Race "Zerenda Half Marathon 2024"; International tournament of masters of hunting with hunting birds "Qansonar".