The Tourism and Investment Department of East Kazakhstan Region informs the public about the legal requirements of the Republic of Kazakhstan governing the organization and provision of tourist trips.
Under the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, tour operator activities are subject to licensing. If an organizer independently develops and sells a tourism product comprising a package of tourism services, such activities must comply with the requirements established by law and be carried out under the appropriate licence.
Key requirements for obtaining a licence
To conduct tour operator activities, the following requirements must be met, among others:
- availability of a developed tourism product;
- at least one employee with a tourism-related education and a minimum of one year of work experience in the tourism sector;
- office premises used on a lawful basis.
Tour operators engaged in outbound tourism are subject to additional requirements, including those related to the system for guaranteeing the rights of citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of outbound tourism.
What organizers of author tours should consider
Paid travel offers in various formats, including author tours, weekend tours, expeditions, road trips and other travel experiences, are promoted through Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, Telegram and other social media platforms.
The legal status of such activities is determined by their actual nature and content. The name given to a service does not, in itself, determine whether a licence is required.
If an organizer independently develops, promotes and sells a tourism product on a commercial basis, they must determine whether their activities fall within the scope of tour operator activities and comply with the applicable legal requirements.
Compliance with the established requirements helps protect tourists' rights, improve travel safety and ensure transparent operating conditions for participants in the tourism market.
The Tourism and Investment Department of East Kazakhstan Region recommends that organizers of tourist trips verify the legal status of their activities in advance and obtain the necessary permits and licences where required by law.
Detailed information on the procedure for obtaining a licence for tour operator activities is available on the electronic licensing portal of the Republic of Kazakhstan, eLicense.kz, and on the official resources of the Tourism and Investment Department of East Kazakhstan Region.
