Free-of-charge air travel for children: Kids go free.

Based on the established Rules, the mechanism of costs reimbursement to tour operators is as follows. Upon tourists return from vacation, a tour operator submits an application. A package of documents is attached to an application for reimbursement of costs:

• copies of constituent documents of a legal entity or documents confirming the beginning of activity as an individual entrepreneur;
• information on the absence (availability) of tax arrears on the first day of the previous month;
• a copy of the license to perform tourist operator activities in the field of inbound and domestic tourism;
• a copy of the tourist service agreement concluded between a tour operator and a tourist;
• a copy of a notarized power of attorney (if a child is flying with a close relative);
• a copy of the permanent residence permit in the Republic of Kazakhstan (for a child who is a stateless person);
• a copy of a ticket and passenger coupon (boarding pass) for a minor passenger;
• information on the provision of tourist services for underage passengers (the form is specified in the Rules).

Pursuant to the Rules, a tour operator's application is considered within two working days, a decision on whether to provide the subsidy or not is made within another 7 days, and if an application is approved, the payment of costs is made within 25 working days. 

The costs will be reimbursed to tour operators by Kazakh Tourism JSC.

Information on the decision made is posted on the Organization's website.

Location address: 55/14 Mangilik El ave., Astana, office: 222.

E-mail: info@qaztourism.kz , g.sakhmetova@qaztourism.kz

"Kids go free" is a stimulating measure from the state aimed at the development of domestic tourism. To participate in the program, one needs to purchase a tour from tour operator with accommodation in a hotel/a health resort or in other place.

Based on the tourist community feedback, a list of tour operators under the "Kids go free" program has been formed for the convenience of tourists (the list of tour operators is advisory and is not binding both for consumers of services and tour operators, the list can be adjusted based on the proposals of tour operators). The participation of tour operators in the system is voluntary.

The list of tour operators and conditions for participation in the program for tour operators are available at the link.

It is important to note that Aviata.kz aggregator has launched a special landing page for Kids Go Free on its platform, where tour operators can place their tours, and tourists can buy the tours with free-of-charge tickets for children by leaving a request.

According to the Rules for obtaining free-of-charge air tickets for children, tourists need to contact a tour operator in the field of domestic tourism to purchase a tourist product and go to vacation throughout the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Free-of-charge air travel is provided at the expense of a tour operator in the field of domestic tourism.

Thus:

• the program is only available to the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan (or stateless persons who have a permanent residence permit in the Republic of Kazakhstan);
• a minor citizen should travel by air accompanied by an adult relative (parents, grandparents, etc.);
• the program applies only to tours under a tour package;
• a tour package should be purchased from a tour operator who has a license to organize domestic tourism tours;
• cost of tour package is paid exclusive of the cost of tickets for children.

The most important thing is that air travel and accommodation should be included into a tour package.

NOTE: the program provides that a tour operator purchases air tickets at its own expense, and then the state reimburses the costs of air tickets for children according to the Rules. At the same time, the participation of tour operators in the program is voluntary. The costs will be reimbursed to tour operators by Kazakh Tourism JSC.

For example, a family of 2 adults and 2 minor children (7 and 10 years old) plans to spend a vacation in Turkestan. The family purchased a tour package from a tour operator in the field of domestic tourism at the cost of KZT 500.000, including air travel and accommodation for all the family members in both directions. A tour operator in the field of domestic tourism provided free-of-charge air travel for children. In total, the amount payable for the tour package is KZT 400.000 (exclusive of the cost of air tickets for children in the amount of KZT 100.000).