The informational tour held as part of the “Balkhash Tour Fest 2025” festival took place in a rich and productive format. The event brought together tour operators, travel agencies, representatives of the tourism industry, journalists, bloggers, administrators of tourism-focused public pages, and other stakeholders. The main goal was to promote the tourism potential of the Balkhash region, strengthen business connections, and support the development of domestic and inbound tourism.
The tour program included the seminar “Innovation in Tourism: Technology, Service, Promotion”, where participants discussed modern trends, digital solutions, and industry challenges. Irina Lyubarskaya, Head of the Entrepreneurship Department of the Karaganda Region, delivered the welcoming address. Representatives of Kazakh Tourism presented their initiatives on standardization and the “Quality Mark” program, and a local IT product — the QazEli booking system — was introduced.
Representatives of the Department of Culture highlighted the cultural and historical potential of the region, including sacred and memorial sites, as well as prospects for the development of cultural tourism. The participants also became familiar with the operations of the State Balneological Health Complex “Balkhash” and visited the Balkhash Local History Museum, where they learned about the city’s history and its tourism opportunities.
As part of the tour, B2B meetings were held with hotel entrepreneurs to strengthen cooperation and jointly promote tourism zones. The final point of the route was a trip to the picturesque Bektauata area, where the guests enjoyed a cultural program.