Tourist Flow from China Increases Ninefold: Kazakhstan Participates in ITB China 2025

28 May 2025

✅ Kazakhstan is strengthening its position in the Chinese tourism market. From May 27 to 29, the international exhibition ITB China 2025 is taking place in Shanghai, where Kazakhstan is represented at a unified national stand covering 162 square meters. The exhibition space includes areas for business meetings, presentations, and the promotion of tourism products.

✅ The Kazakh delegation includes representatives of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kazakh Tourism National Company, as well as regional tourism departments from Astana, Almaty, and the Akmola, Almaty, Turkistan, and Mangystau regions. The delegation also features representatives of the hospitality sector and leading travel companies.

✅ The official opening ceremony of the exhibition was attended by David Ruetz, Senior Vice President of Messe Berlin GmbH, David Axiotis, Vice President of Messe Berlin GmbH, Dato' Sri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia, and Peng Xu, Vice Chairman of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA). Distinguished guests visited Kazakhstan's national stand, viewed the exhibition, and sampled traditional Kazakh delicacies, praising the country's hospitality and cultural diversity.

✅ The stand places special emphasis on tourism opportunities in Almaty and Astana, as well as on natural and cultural routes across Kazakhstan’s regions. Visitors are offered video presentations, business meetings, and informational materials in Chinese.

✅ China remains a key priority market: according to the Border Service of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan, the number of tourists from China exceeded 650,000 in 2024—nearly nine times higher than in 2019. In 2024 alone, 173,987 Chinese nationals stayed in Kazakh hotels, a 66% increase compared to the previous year.

✅ This growth has been made possible by the introduction of a visa-free regime, increased flight frequencies, and targeted promotional efforts in the Chinese market. Kazakhstan’s active participation in international exhibitions continues to boost inbound tourism and raise the country's profile among Chinese travelers.

✅ ITB China is one of the largest B2B tourism platforms in China. In 2025, the event features over 600 exhibitors from 80 countries and expects more than 15,000 professional attendees, including over 1,000 buyers and 250 media representatives.

Tourist Flow from China Increases Ninefold: Kazakhstan Participates in ITB China 2025