The West Kazakhstan region has a territory with the widest opportunities for the development of the tourism industry of business.
Over the past 5 years, there has been an increase in the number of visitors to inbound and domestic tourism by 15%. However, due to the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the country in 2020, the number of visitors decreased by 61.7%, and for the 1st quarter of 2021 by 13.6% and amounted to 12,687 people. To date, the number of accommodation places is 75 units in which there are 1,849 rooms, while the one-time capacity is 3,895 beds.
For reference: The decrease in the number of visitors is associated with the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the country, which led to the closure of the state border. Also, due to the placement of medical personnel in hotels in the city and the region, which led to the closure of tourism facilities for quarantine. 6 hotels in the city (Victoria, Aidana, Park Hotel, Chagall, Rahat, Pushkin Hotel) were attracted to accommodate medical workers, and provided 452 beds to prevent the spread and minimize contacts with relatives.
The urban culture of Uralsk is also developing intensively, today the city is more than 400 years old. In the historical city, many buildings have been preserved since the XIX century: the House of merchants Vanyushins, the House of Tukhvatullins, the House-Museum of E. Pugachev, the Building of the cinema named after him. Gagarina, the Church in the name of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Red Mosque, the Karev House and others. At various times, A. S. Pushkin, M. A. Sholokhov, V. A. Zhukovsky, V. I. Dal, L. N. Tolstoy, I. A. Krylov, and many other outstanding figures of culture, science and art visited Uralsk.
"West Kazakhstan Historical, cultural, architectural and ethnographic Museum-reserve Khan Ordasy", located in the village of Orda, Bokeyordinsky district-which has become part of the historical heritage of the 19th century. This is the first urban - type settlement in the western region, founded by Zhangir Khan and later included in the history textbooks as the Khan's headquarters. It is from those times that the most important period in the majestic history of the Bukeev Horde originates today, in order to develop the Khan Ordasy Museum-Reserve included in the TOP 50 of the Regional Map of Tourist Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a PSD project for the construction of an additional administrative building and a visit center has been developed.
Much attention is also paid to the development of the culture of ethnographic and ecological tourism. The expanses of the ethno-tourist center "Sayat" provide an opportunity to plunge into the world of ancient nomads for a moment and master the skills of horse riding-joining the national equestrian sports. True spiritual pleasure will be given to connoisseurs of ethnotourism and informative excursions that open up unusual corners of original nature.
A favorite type of tourist leisure in the region is summer and winter fishing. Several fishing complexes are presented to the attention of tourists. This is a fisherman's house "Dongelek" and a recreation center "Sayat" with nine piers on a fixed lake and the Ural River.
Assistance in the successful development of children's and youth tourism and ecology is a special priority. Young generations are especially interested in active knowledge of the landscapes of their native land that have been fascinating since childhood. This is evidenced by the leading position of children's and youth tourism throughout the republic. The local history center, which has brought up more than one generation of tourists who are truly in love with their small homeland, was awarded the high status of a UNESCO Club in 2016
It is also worth noting that work is actively underway to develop digitalization in the tourism sector. Along with this, in order to provide information, promote tourism for guests and residents of the region, the following tourist products are presented:
upgraded website www.visit-uralsk.kz, "Interactive 3D map of tourism of the region" posted on the website, virtual tours of tourist and sacred objects (20 virtual tours are under development), information and tourist terminals installed in public places, a virtual promoter used in large-scale events, a virtual kiosk, turkarta of the region and the city of Uralsk, trifolders about tourist routes, museums, etc.
To demonstrate the possibilities of tourism development in the region, as well as to study the tourist potential in the region, more than 27 tourist routes have been prepared. In particular, the most popular 8 (An excursion to the Bukeev Khanate, the Mysterious Ichka, the smallest waterfall, "Akzhayik", a Jeep tour to the Chingirlau district, the Reserved Terekta, the Steppe Lake, the Sacred objects of the WKO).
Additional information is available on the website www.visit-uralsk.kz in the register of tourist routes.
In the tourism sector, it is planned to implement 4 investment projects in the amount of 10.8 billion tenge in 2021 with the creation of about 94 new jobs, of which 1 project has been implemented.
Also, in 2022-2025, it is planned to implement such promising projects as: Construction of a recreation and water entertainment park with a beach and a bath and wellness complex in the Bayterek district, Construction of a hotel under the international franchise of the Intercontinental Hotel Group-Holiday Inn in Aksai, Construction of a 4-star hotel complex, Organization of tourist activities on Lake Shalkar.
Foreign economic activity
The West Kazakhstan region is located in the north-western part of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The territory of the region is 151.3 thousand km2 or 5.6% of the territory of the republic. The region borders with five regions of the Russian Federation – Astrakhan, Volgograd, Saratov, Samara, Orenburg, and our interregional cooperation is only getting stronger and expanding thanks to regular meetings of the Heads of our states.
To date, Cooperation Agreements have been signed between the West Kazakhstan region and the border regions of the Russian Federation.
The foreign trade turnover of the West Kazakhstan region with all countries of the world and the Customs Union (EAEU) in January-May 2021 amounted to 2,194.8 million US dollars and decreased by 7.9% compared to the same period in 2020 (in January-May 2020, the trade turnover amounted to 2,383. 2 million US dollars).
Export deliveries amounted to 1,894. 3 million US dollars and decreased by 10.2% compared to the corresponding period of 2020 (in January-May 2020, export deliveries amounted to 2,111.8 million US dollars).
Import receipts amounted to 300.4 million US dollars and increased by 10.6% compared to the corresponding period of 2020 (in January-May 2020, import deliveries amounted to 271.4 million US dollars).
The foreign trade turnover with the countries of the Customs Union (EAEU) in January-May 2021 amounted to 230.3 million US dollars and increased by 15.1% compared to the same period in 2020 (in January-May 2020, the trade turnover amounted to 200.1 million US dollars).
Exports amounted to 37.3 million U.S. dollars (decrease 5.8%), import revenues made up of 193.0 million dollars (an increase of 20.2 per cent).
Foreign trade turnover with all countries except the Customs Union (EAEU) in January-may 2021 foreign trade turnover with all countries except the Customs Union amounted to 1 964,5 million USD and decreased by 10.0% compared to the same period of 2020 (January-may 2020, the trade turnover amounted to 2 183,1 million U.S. dollars).
Export deliveries amounted to 1,857. 0 million US dollars (a decrease of 10.4%), import receipts amounted to 107.4 million US dollars (a decrease of 3.1%).
In connection with the sanitary and epidemiological situation, in the period from November 2020 to February 2021, the Akim of the West Kazakhstan region held online meetings with the Governors of the Saratov, Orenburg, Volgograd and Samara regions. At these meetings, issues of bilateral cooperation in the fields of entrepreneurship, agriculture, healthcare, attracting investment, culture and sports, ecology, etc. were discussed. As part of the online meetings with the Governors of the border regions, issues on the resumption and expansion of trade and economic ties and the organization of joint ventures were discussed, which will increase trade turnover with the Russian Federation.
On March 16-18, 2021, a delegation of the Saratov region visited the West Kazakhstan region on a working visit. Within the framework of the visit, a business mission of entrepreneurs of the Saratov and West Kazakhstan regions and a meeting among universities were held. During the meeting, a memorandum on cooperation in the implementation of joint research projects and the exchange of experience in the field of medicine was signed between the West Kazakhstan Higher Medical College LLP and the Saratov State Medical University named after V. I. Razumovsky. Also, an agreement between the Ural Medical College "Maksat" and the Saratov State Medical University named after V. I. Razumovsky.
Also,on April 28, the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Portugal, a major investor, Gilles Fernando Tainia Vieira, arrived in the region. To improve the sanitary and epidemiological situation, the visit of the Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany to Almaty, Kazakhstan is planned.
On May 14 of this year, the investment forum "Akzhayyk Invest-2021" was held in an online format. The forum was attended by First Deputy Akim of the West Kazakhstan region Mankeev M. N., Deputy Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Zebeshev A. T., Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSC NC KAZAKH INVEST, representatives of the embassies of Israel, Austria, Belgium, border regions of the Russian Federation, General Director of KPO B. V. Gabriele Giona, representatives of the AIFC, development institutes, business, etc. in order to get acquainted with the investment potential of the region and the opportunity to demonstrate the achievements of the region in socio-economic development, also about state support measures.
On May 14, an online meeting was held on international cooperation between secondary vocational education institutions of the Samara region and the West Kazakhstan region.
On May 25, at 12.00, a meeting of the working group on the development of international relations of the Volgograd and West Kazakhstan regions was held under the leadership of the first deputy akim of the region Mukhtar Mankeev. At this meeting, an agreement was reached on regulating the issue of the number of saigas on the territory of the two border regions. Also, the issue of the construction of a high-voltage line VL-110 kVA 75 km p was discussed.Zasura-P.The mousetrap. Among other things, they discussed the development of healthcare, culture and trade and economic cooperation. A solemn remote signing of the Agreement between the Union "Volgograd Chamber of Commerce and Industry" and the Regional Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the West Kazakhstan region took place.
On May 25, an official visit of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Republic of Kazakhstan S. P. Niyazkhodzhayev was organized. During the visit, a meeting was organized with students from the Republic of Uzbekistan students at the Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian and Technical University, IT-Hub, projects on digitalization of the region were presented (iKomek, 109, stopcovid.kz) and agricultural and construction projects where citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan work.
During the period of June 8-9, a visit of the Dutch companies headed by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of the Netherlands A. Zhumagaliyev and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Republic of Kazakhstan A. Carstens was organized. On the territory of the Industrial Zone, the company "Broeikas Uralsk" laid the foundation stone for the construction of a greenhouse complex with an area of 55 hectares with the participation of the Dutch company "Van Der Hoeven".
On June 21-22 of this year, an official visit of the Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Almaty of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Christiana Markert, was organized. During the visit, we visited the Karachaganak oil and gas condensate field, Zhaikmunai LLP, held a meeting with the staff of the Nazarbayev Intellectual School Uralsk and met with compatriots of the NGO "Ural German Cultural and Educational Society "Heimat".
On July 13, 2021, an online business mission was conducted with the participation of tour operators of the Samara and West Kazakhstan regions. The purpose of this business mission is to familiarize and establish cooperation in the tourism industry and discuss the issue of conducting an information tour.The business mission was attended by the Mir Travel travel Agency, the Tourist Information Center, the Regional Center for Ecology and Youth Tourism and the Nurbergen sanatorium.
During the period of July 19-21 of this year, an official visit of the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Guimaraes, Gilles Fernando Taina Vieira and Portuguese companies was organized. From the foreign side, such companies as MCA, VHM and Telhabe. S. A., which are specialized in the construction, design, and implementation of turnkey infrastructure, took part. The companies noted a great interest in the implementation and investment of projects in the West Kazakhstan region.During the visit, a meeting was held with representatives of the Health Department of the WKO and the Akimat of Uralsk.
On July 19 of this year, with the participation of Akim of the West Kazakhstan region G. N. Iskaliyev, an online meeting was organized with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Kazakhstan June Yamada and Japanese investors. The prospects of cooperation were discussed at the meeting and the investment potential of the West Kazakhstan region was presented. Also, the project of a transport and logistics hub was presented.
As part of the fight against coronavirus infection, restrictive measures were established to cross the borders of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In this regard, an Interdepartmental Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission) was established to prevent the occurrence and spread of coronavirus infection in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan to attract foreign labor. At the moment, according to the results of the commission, the entry/exit of 2989 foreign employees was approved for companies of the West Kazakhstan region, of which 2597 foreign employees were provided with entry for the smooth operation of companies and organizations of the region.