RIYADH: Investment opportunities in Kazakhstan’s tourism industry were presented in an event aimed at Saudi businessmen by the Riyadh, Eastern Province and Jeddah chambers of commerce.
Organized by the Embassy of Kazakhstan and the country’s Department of Tourism of Almaty with the support of the Kazakh Tourism National Company, the event was attended by Berik Aryn, ambassador of Kazakhstan to Saudi Arabia; Talgat Amanbayev, chairman of Kazakh Tourism; Talgat Shaldanbay, consul general of Kazakhstan in Jeddah; Aslan Konurkanov, vice director of Visit Almaty, and heads and representatives of Kazakh travel and aviation companies.
The Saudi side was represented by Bader Al-Reziza, chairman of Asharqia Chamber; Naif Al-Rajhi, vice chairman of the Riyadh Chamber; Ramiz Al-Ghaleb, acting secretary-general of the Jeddah Chamber; members of the chambers of commerce of Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province, as well as more than 100 heads and representatives from various Saudi tour operators and airlines.
The Kazakh ambassador pointed to the historical ties between Kazakhstan and the Kingdom, first established on the ancient Silk Road that connected Central Asia and the Gulf region.
The route played a crucial role in facilitating economic, cultural, political and spiritual interaction between East and West.
Aryn called on participants to restore close cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Kingdom by conducting a joint campaign to promote the two countries as new tourist destinations.
He briefed attendees on the measures taken by the Kazakhstan government to develop tourism and infrastructure, including the resumption of visa-free entry to Kazakhstan for Saudi citizens, the launch of direct flights by Kazakh airlines between the two countries and the introduction of the “open skies” strategy.
The Kazakh delegation showed video presentations with natural landscapes and sights of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s cultural capital. It was followed by a folk music concert and a gastronomic tasting of Kazakh cuisines.
Following the event, they organized B2B interactions, where the local business community held meetings with Kazakh tour operators and airlines. Kazakh travel companies signed cooperation deals with Saudi tour operators.
