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Tuesday, 23.04.2024, 11:17
Welcome address by EXPO 2017 Commissioner to Tourism Conference
Dear participants of the Conference!
Ladies and gentlemen!
Welcome
to the Third Astana EXPO 2017 International Tourism Conference!
Ladies and gentlemen!
I am glad to welcome you at the International Tourism
Conference in the run-up to the world-renowned EXPO 2017 Exhibition.
First of all, I would like to express gratitude to all the
present, especially representatives of foreign tourist companies, for
participation in such an important informational tour! The today’s event is
aimed at serving as a platform to exchange experience and information on every
aspect of the tourism area facilitating success of the EXPO 2017 Exhibition.
Our Exhibition is not only an effective platform to discuss
and generate proposals on energy issues, but also an opportunity to attract
more tourists to our country. As previous world exhibitions show, EXPO yields
fruit and has a significant economic effect in terms of revenues for hotels,
restaurants, museums, recreation areas.
As you know, only 50 (fifty) days are left till its
beginning. So far, 115 (one hundred and fifteen) states and 21 (twenty-one)
international organizations have officially confirmed their participation in
the International Exhibition.
It is expected that the Exhibition will be attended by more
than 2 (two) million tourists, 15% (fifteen percent) of them is foreign
visitors. In order to hold the Exhibition successfully and ensure favourable
conditions for visitors during EXPO as well as to develop and promote tourism
sphere in Kazakhstan we undertake the following measures:
1. Visa regime liberalization
From
January 1, 2017 (January the first two thousand seventeen) a unilateral
visa-free regime was introduced for citizens of 45 (forty-five) countries that
have a right for visa-free entry for up to thirty calendar days from the day of
entering the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Taking
into account that the year 2017 was declared to be the China Tourism Year, the
ADS Agreement was signed between the Republic of Kazakhstan and People’s
Republic of China on simplification of group tourist trips from China to
Kazakhstan.
2. Negotiations with major tourist organizations of the
world
Within the negotiations with the leadership of tourist
agencies and organizations we have already signed memorandums of cooperation
with 47 (forty-seven) tourist associations and organizations of the world.
No we are preparing to hold major international events
within the Exhibition, such as the Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO), international conference of the World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO) with participation of ministers of tourism, ministerial conference on
energy, international women forum and other events. In conjunction with the
closing of the Exhibition, the OIC Summit on Science and Technology will be
held for the first time. In addition, it is planned to hold national days of
participating countries, thematic events of international organizations and a
lot of cultural activities.
I believe that all these events and our efforts will give an
opportunity to develop tourism capacity of Kazakhstan as well as to develop
infrastructure and attractiveness of our capital.
Dear participants of the conference!
I wish you fruitful work and efficient negotiations within
the Conference.
Thank you for attention!