Kazakhstan Increases Number of Direct Flights from South Korea to Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent to 17 per Week

South Korea remains one of Kazakhstan’s key tourism markets.
In 2024, Kazakhstan welcomed 40,180 South Korean nationals—an increase of 12.8% compared to 2023, bringing the figures back to pre-pandemic levels.

The number of tourists staying in hotels also rose, reaching 26,861—up by 12%.
This growth was driven by the visa-free regime, the expanded number of direct flights, and active promotion of Kazakhstan as a tourist destination.

During B2B meetings in Seoul, Kazakhstani tour operators held negotiations with more than 60 South Korean companies.
Key participants included Kazakh Tourism, the Almaty Tourism Bureau, Air Astana, SCAT Airlines, and the Shymbulak ski resort.
The event was held with the support of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the Republic of Korea.

Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Korea, Nurgali Arystanov, stated:

“In 2024, Kazakhstan's economy grew by 5.1%. The volume of foreign direct investment reached a record high.
With the support of the national leadership, the tourism sector is actively developing, including the MICE segment.
A testament to this was the international forum held in Astana in 2025, where former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was among the honored guests.”

Airlines such as Air Astana, SCAT, and Eastar Jet raffled flight tickets, while B2B partners offered special sponsorship certificates.

In addition, the Almaty Tourism Bureau is organizing participation in the SITF international exhibition in Seoul.
In April, Kazakh Tourism and Air Astana conducted a familiarization tour for nine of South Korea’s largest tour operators.