The Department of Tourism of Almaty City reinforced its growing engagement with the Indian travel trade through a focused networking evening in Mumbai, held alongside OTM Mumbai, which concluded yesterday. Designed to move beyond exhibition-floor conversations, the event brought together senior diplomats, airline partners, destination management companies and hospitality stakeholders to underline Almaty’s long-term commitment to the Indian market.
Hosted at Sofitel Mumbai, the evening combined destination insights with market-facing dialogue, reflecting the steady momentum building between India and Kazakhstan across tourism, aviation and investment.
Addressing the gathering, Yermek Aitmagambetov, Second Secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in India, emphasised the strategic role tourism now plays in bilateral relations.
“Special attention is being paid to the development of tourism between our two countries,” he said. “We welcome the Government of India’s decision to grant citizens of Kazakhstan visa-free entry for up to 30 days for tourism and medical purposes. This step will make a meaningful contribution to strengthening bilateral relations and encouraging deeper people-to-people engagement.”
He pointed to the success of Kazakhstan’s own 30-day visa-free regime for Indian citizens, introduced earlier, which has already delivered tangible results. “In 2025, tourist arrivals from India to Kazakhstan reached around 150,000. Improved air connectivity through direct flights between Almaty, New Delhi and Mumbai has made us more connected than ever before,” Aitmagambetov noted.
Highlighting future plans, he added, “Together with our Indian partners, we are working on launching new routes connecting Kazakhstan with other Indian cities. We are confident this will further increase tourist flows. From our side, we are keen to meet the expectations of Indian travellers and see strong potential in developing Indian hotels, restaurants and investments in Almaty and other Kazakh cities.”
Further destination perspective was shared by Abikhan Yerkebulan Kuatuly, Head of Tourism Promotion, Department of the Almaty City Tourism Department, who placed the tourism partnership in a broader historical context.
“This year marks 34 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and India,” he said. “Over these decades, our countries have built strong and friendly ties across economic, trade and tourism sectors. Tourism today stands out as one of the most dynamic areas of cooperation.”
Positioning Almaty for the Indian traveller, Kuatuly described the city as Central Asia’s largest urban centre and Kazakhstan’s cultural, educational and gastronomic capital. “Almaty’s unique setting, surrounded by majestic mountains, creates a special atmosphere. Indian tourists, in particular, are drawn to our natural landscapes and outdoor experiences,” he said.
Among Almaty’s signature attractions, he highlighted Shymbulak, the mountain resort located at over 3,200 metres above sea level and recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s highest night skiing slope. “It has become a strong draw for adventure-oriented travellers from India,” he added.
Sharing market data, Kuatuly revealed that Indian arrivals to Almaty continue to show strong growth. “In the first three quarters of 2025, arrivals from India reached approximately 86,000, and by the end of the year, this number rose to around 125,000, accounting for over 15 per cent of our total tourist flow,” he said.
Air connectivity has been a decisive factor in this growth. He noted that Air Astana launched direct Almaty–Mumbai services in April 2025 with three flights per week, supplementing the daily Almaty–Delhi operations. “These direct links have significantly enhanced accessibility and positioned Almaty as a convenient gateway to Central Asia for Indian travellers,” he said.
The airline’s commitment to the market was further outlined through presentations by Alan Atamkulov, Country Manager for India and the Indian Subcontinent, and Gaurika Manocha, Sales and Marketing Manager. Destination partners, including Skyway DMC, Turan Kazakhstan Travel, Beyond DMC, Satuguru Holidays, and Chalo DMC, along with The Ritz-Carlton Almaty, showcased tailored products and experiences for Indian outbound travellers.
Adding a cultural dimension to the evening were traditional performances and lucky draws, offering guests a glimpse into Kazakhstan’s heritage.
