According to the official statistics, the tourism sector of the East Kazakhstan Region demonstrated steady growth in the first quarter of 2026 (January–March). The region ranked first in the Republic of Kazakhstan in terms of the number of accommodation facilities, reaching 429 establishments (+58), and second in terms of one-time accommodation capacity, which amounted to 21,901 bed spaces (+5%). The total tourist flow reached 83 thousand visitors, including 80 thousand domestic tourists and 3 thousand international tourists.
Positive dynamics were also recorded in financial indicators. The volume of tourism services provided increased to KZT 2.3 billion (+20.6%), while investments in fixed capital reached KZT 5.5 billion (+42.6%), including KZT 2.3 billion (+21.7%) invested in accommodation services.
In accordance with the Region’s Economic Development Strategy through 2029, tourism development is focused on four key tourism clusters:
- Katon-Karagay and Ulken Naryn – wellness and ecotourism (wellness hotels, pantotherapy, apitherapy).
- Glubokoye District, Altai and Ridder – active recreation and ski tourism.
- Markakol and Zaysan – natural heritage and ecotourism.
- "City – Mountains – Lakes" Cluster (Ust-Kamenogorsk, Ulan and Glubokoye districts) – a year-round destination for weekend tourism.
In 2025, several major tourism projects were successfully completed, including the construction of the Dostyk Hotel with a restaurant in Altai and the reconstruction of the Beibarys Hotel in Ust-Kamenogorsk. In 2026, the expansion of the Zarechye Eco-Hotel and the Primorsk recreation center is expected.
In addition, the commissioning of several major tourism facilities is planned by 2028, including the Hilton Garden Inn in Ust-Kamenogorsk and the Wellness Resort health and wellness complex in Katon-Karagay District.
As part of implementing the instructions of the Head of State to improve the readiness of tourism destinations, the Akimat of the East Kazakhstan Region approved the Tourism Map of the East Kazakhstan Region (Resolution No. 273 dated 30 October 2025). The document identifies 23 priority areas for infrastructure development, including 13 major recreation areas such as the Bukhtarma Reservoir shoreline, the Sibinskiye Lakes and other tourism destinations.
- Improvement works continue at the Arbat recreational area and the public beach on the Bukhtarma Reservoir in Altai District. Measures are being developed to enhance safety, including the installation of CCTV cameras, lifeguard towers and rescue stations.
- In Samar District, design and estimate documentation is being prepared for the construction of the Arbat recreational area, while power transmission lines are being built to provide electricity to tourism facilities. The number of rescue personnel is planned to increase from 2 to 7.
- In Ust-Kamenogorsk, improvement works are underway at the Samal and KNM beaches. The project includes the installation of the necessary infrastructure, additional gazebos, 20 CCTV cameras, renovation of sanitary facilities and replacement of beach equipment.
- At other municipal beaches across the region, additional shower cabins, sun loungers and safety equipment are also being planned.
To improve transport accessibility, 65.4 km of roads leading to tourism destinations were repaired in 2025. In 2026, an additional 114 km of roads are scheduled for major repairs.
A total of 34 sanitary and hygiene facilities currently operate along roads leading to tourism destinations, with an additional 9 facilities planned for centralized installation this year.
Municipal solid waste collection and disposal services have been organized in the region's major tourism destinations. For example, in the settlement of Novaya Bukhtarma (Altai District), 45 waste containers at eight collection sites were repaired last year, and an additional 50 containers were purchased.
Efforts to improve mobile communications and Internet access in tourism destinations are ongoing. Of the 33 locations included in the Tourism Map, 30 are already covered by 3G/4G mobile Internet. For remote areas, the deployment of Starlink and OneWeb satellite terminals is being considered. Their phased installation is planned to be completed by the end of the current year.