Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov Issues Strict Ultimatum to Kazakh Tourism Leadership

Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has made it clear that he expects concrete results from Talgat Gazizov, the Chairman of the Board of the "Kazakh Tourism" National Company. The ultimatum was delivered during a recent government meeting.

During the session, Gazizov presented a report on the work being done to promote the country’s tourism potential on an international scale. Following the presentation, the Prime Minister reminded Gazizov of his very recent appointment on January 16 and set a firm standard for his performance.

"You are a new employee. Nevertheless, we expect real results. If there are results, you continue your work. If not, we say goodbye. Is that understood?" Olzhas Bektenov stated.

The Prime Minister noted that while there is some positive momentum in the tourism sector across various regions, comprehensive audits have revealed numerous systemic issues. According to Bektenov, a significant number of tourist sites still lack high-quality internet access, and progress in this area remains too slow.

Key issues highlighted by the Prime Minister include:

• Frequent violations of sanitary and epidemiological standards.
• Operations without proper permits and documentation.
• Poor transport accessibility and waste management issues.
• Unreliable energy supply.
• Lack of 24/7 emergency services at tourist locations.
• Excessively high hotel prices.

To address these challenges, the Prime Minister ordered the creation of an Urgent Coordination Council. This council will include regional akimats local governments, the "Atameken" National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, major tourism business owners, and industry experts. The council will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Information, Aida Balayeva.