The tourism industry is developing dynamically in the region.
In 2021, the number of accommodation facilities amounted to 247 units, which is at the level of 2020. The number of rooms in the places of accommodation amounted to 4,502 units. 272.3 thousand visitors were served, which is 36.2% more than in 2020 . Of the total number of visitors, 96.5% are residents of other regions of the republic, 3.5% are foreign citizens. The volume of services provided by accommodation facilities amounted to 4626.3 million tenge, IFO - 152.9%.
The main tourist centers of the region , where there is potential for tourism development, are the city of Karaganda, Ulytau, Aktogay, Karkaralinsky districts, the center for the development of beach tourism is the coast of Lake Balkhash.
Ulytau region is a region for the development of ecological, historical, pilgrimage, as well as excursion types of tourism. The main resources are the Aulietau mountains, historical and cultural monuments (mazars of Zhoshy Khan, Alash Khan, the ancient cities of Baskamyr, Ayakkamyr, Terektiauliye rock paintings, etc.). On the territory there are 3 hotels, 2 recreation areas, the museum-reserve of the Republican significance "Ulytau" and the only museum in the Republic of the history of mining and copper smelting in the village of Zhezdy. In 2021, the construction of the historical and cultural complex "Zhoshy Khan" was completed in Ulytau.
Karkaralinsky district is one of the centers of recreational recreation. There are 14 houses and recreation areas, hotels, children's camps and cottages. On the basis of the State National Natural Park "Karkaraly" there are 7 tourist and excursion routes.
The Balkhash region includes the territories of the cities of Balkhash and Priozersk and the territory of the Aktogay region of the coast of Lake Balkhash. The main tourist resources of the region are Lake Balkhash, the Bektauata mountain range, the Kyzylarai reserve, Aksoran peak. In 2021, the construction of engineering infrastructure (power lines, water supply and sanitation) to the tourist facilities of the Bertys Bay in the city of Balkhash began.
The tourist infrastructure of the Balkhash region consists of 63 accommodation facilities, including 28 hotels, 2 motels, 5 holiday houses and boarding houses, 26 one-story bungalows, cottages, rural houses (chalets), 1 children's camp and 1 hostel. Of these, in Balkhash - 16 hotels, 2 motels, 16 one-story bungalows, cottages, rural houses (chalets), 3 - holiday resorts; in Priozersk - 8 hotels; in the Aktogay region - 4 hotels, 2 houses and a holiday resort, 1 children's camp, 1 camp site, 10 one-story bungalows and cottages .
The city of Karaganda is the center of business, cultural, educational, sports tourism. The largest number of accommodation places and tourist organizations are located here. The tourist infrastructure consists of 75 accommodation facilities, which include 58 hotels, 3 motels, 13 one-story cottages, 1 hostel.
In 2021, in order to develop the tourism infrastructure in the region, 11 projects were implemented for a total of 526.5 million tenge, 39 jobs were created.
In 2021, within the framework of the Business Road Map 2025 program, 76 projects were subsidized for an investment of 1,187.5 million tenge with the type of activity “Provision of accommodation and food services”.