More Chinese tourists discovering delights of unique Kazakh scenery

Since the start of the visa exemption policy between China and Kazakhstan in November 2023, an increasing number of tourists have passed through the Dulata Port in China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, bordering Kazakhstan.

Statistics from the Dulata border inspection station show that more than 15,000 passengers passed through the Dulata highway port in the first five months of this year, a 368.5 percent year-on-year increase, marking the highest passenger volume since the port's opening in 2006.Outbound trucks reached more than 17,000, up 4.1 percent year-on-year, with a peak of 300 vehicles passing through in a single day.

Zhang Biao, deputy captain of the first team at the Dulata border inspection station, said that amid the launch of the Kazakhstan tourism year in China, the station is responding to new situations and changes in port clearance, optimizing the cargo and passenger clearance environment and enhancing inspection efficiency.

In May 2023, China and Kazakhstan signed a mutual visa exemption agreement, making Kazakhstan the first Central Asian country to have such an agreement with China. It came into effect in November that year. About 217,000 Chinese tourists visited Kazakhstan in 2023, a 12-fold increase compared to 2022. For many years, China has been one of Kazakhstan's main trade and investment partners, with bilateral trade volume reaching about$41 billion in 2023.

Shakhrat Nuryshev, the Kazakh ambassador to China, said at a recent news conference that the Kazakhstan tourism year in China will deepen bilateral cooperation and enhance Chinese people's understanding of his country.

He noted that Kazakhstan, with its vast territory and rich tourism resources, offers visitors the chance to explore numerous historical sites and pristine natural landscapes.

As the largest landlocked country in the world, Kazakhstan ranks ninth globally in terms of land area. Nuryshev highlighted that the vast country offers a variety of landscapes."Mountains, rivers, forests and grasslands — in Kazakhstan, you can appreciate well-preserved pristine natural scenery. Due to the significant climate differences across regions, it's almost possible to experience 'four seasons in one country' in Kazakhstan," the ambassador said.

He mentioned that Kazakhstan is enhancing its infrastructure, including airport terminals and railways, to provide a more convenient and comfortable travel experience for foreign tourists. To assist the travel of Chinese tourists in Kazakhstan, the country is considering adding more Chinese signs and tour guide services.

"Every year, a significant number of Kazakh students study in China. We hope to attract them to contribute to Kazakh-Chinese tourism cooperation," he said."We believe that the tourism year and the visa exemption policy will promote tourism cooperation between the two countries, fostering friendship and deepening mutual understanding between the peoples of both nations."

Nuryshev added that this year, Kazakhstan plans to cooperate with China to host more than 35 different events across various provinces and cities in China.These include tourism roadshows, blogger and media representative tours, forums and concerts.

With the development of cultural exchanges, flight routes between Kazakhstan and China are expanding. Currently, there are more than 20 weekly flights from various cities in Kazakhstan to China.