Astana, Kazakhstan’s rapidly modernized capital, is launching a push into the Korean tourism market as a growing Eurasian economic and cultural hub. Since gaining capital status in 1997, Astana has expanded to about 1.5 million people and $28 billion regional GDP, attracting major private investment (about $35 billion in 2024) and posting double-digit growth in industry. The city combines world-class hotel infrastructure (e.g., Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis) with culinary and nature-linked tourism to create over 100 tailored tour routes. Astana also promotes itself as a MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) destination, hosting roughly 1,175 events annually (around 200 international), and recently drew 30,000+ attendees to 56 major international events. Officials said Korea is a strategic partner for expanding tourist exchanges and developing new travel routes; roadshow events in Seoul included presentations and B2B meetings to kick off cooperation with Korean travel industry players.
