At the meeting of the Government chaired by the Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev, the Minister of Culture and Sports, Arystanbek Mukhamediuly, reported on the Development Plan of the Shchuchinsk-Borovoe resort zone of the Akmola region for 2017-2020 (Stage III) and the Roadmap for Tourism Development in Astana until 2020.

According to the speaker, the Roadmap for the development of the Astana tourist cluster, including the development of medical, cultural, educational and business tourism, the Shchuchinsk-Borovoe resort zone, and the development of measures to increase the efficiency and self-sufficiency of health, higher education, culture and sports facilities of Astana city was developed in accordance with the instructions of the Head of State, and corresponding decisions of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan were prepared on them.

The development plan for the Shchuchinsk-Borovoe resort zone for 2017-2020 consists of four sections and 33 events. It includes measures to address infrastructural and environmental problems, development of transport and logistics infrastructure, security, tourist potential development. For the implementation of the activities of the Development Plan of SBRZ, it is planned to finance 61.3 billion tenge.

Touching upon the development of the Astana tourist cluster, A. Mukhamediuly noted that according to the results of eight months of 2017, the greatest volume of investments fell to Astana – 19.2 billion tenge, an increase of 25.9% over the year.

"The main tourist magnet of the year was the Expo-2017 International Exhibition, thanks to which, according to the results of the first half-year, the number of hotels and restaurants increased by 16%, rooms ready to receive guests – by 15%. The volume of services rendered by them grew at once by 23%. Astana was among the top three in terms of the growth in the number of hotels and other placements for the year," the minister stressed.

Developed and submitted for approval in the Government of Kazakhstan, Roadmap for the development of tourism in the city of Astana until 2020 consists of 24 events, including attraction of domestic and foreign tourists; improvement of infrastructure quality of tourist services; increase of the efficiency of use and self-repayment of objects of culture, sports, public health services and higher education of the city of Astana; development of medical tourism; as well as activities in the field of educational tourism.

“I believe that the adoption of these resolutions will give a positive impetus to the further development of tourism in clusters ‘Astana is the heart of Eurasia’, as well as ‘Unity of nature and nomadic culture,” A. Mukhamediuly concluded.

During the meeting, reports of akims of the Akmola region, M. Myrzalin, and Astana, A. Issekeshev, were also heard.

Following the discussion, Bakytzhan Sagintayev instructed the Akims of Akmola region and Astana together with interested state bodies to ensure high-quality and timely implementation of the activities of the Plan and Roadmap.