Kazakh Tourism, the national tourism organization of Kazakhstan, officially opened its first international office in India on February 22nd at SATTE, South Asia’s largest tourism exhibition.

This strategic move aims to tap into the rapidly growing Indian outbound tourism market, projected to exceed 50 million tourists by 2026. Kazakh Tourism Chairman Kairat Sadvakassov highlighted India’s potential, calling it “one of the most promising outbound tourism markets in the world.”

Prashant Chaudhary, head of Salvia Promoters and a seasoned tourism professional, was appointed as the Indian representative. Salvia specializes in promoting Central Asia and Russia, and has experience operating visa centers and promotion offices for various destinations.

Chaudhary emphasized Kazakhstan’s appeal to Indian travelers, touting its diverse landscapes, vibrant cities, rich history, and convenient visa-free travel and direct flights.

He also noted the growing popularity of destinations beyond Almaty, like Astana and Shymkent, highlighting Kazakhstan’s untapped tourism potential.

The agreement between Kazakh Tourism and Salvia aims to attract Indian tourist groups and represent Kazakh interests in this key market. Their initial collaboration showcased at SATTE involves a planned visit for Indian travel journalists to Kazakhstan in the first half of 2024.

With India’s booming travel market and Kazakhstan’s unique offerings, Chaudhary believes the country could attract up to 500,000 Indian tourists annually by 2026. This optimism aligns with Almaty recently being ranked the top searched holiday destination for Indian travelers by India Today.

The opening of this office marks a significant step for Kazakh Tourism and potentially paves the way for more international tourism ventures in the future.