About win of Astana in holding of eighth Summit of urban tourism in 2019 was known during 7th Global Summit Urban Tourism UNWTO in capital of South Korea. More than 1000 thousand participants from 57 countries take part in it, reported MIA “Kazinform” with reference to press service of urban akimat.

Earlier forum hold in large cities with the level of tourism development exceeding the global indicators: Istanbul, Moscow, Barcelona, Marrakesh, Luxor, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul.

Holding an event of this scale and level is the first in the history of independent Kazakhstan in the field of tourism. The Global Urban Tourism Summit is held once a year in a city selected in accordance with the requirements of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the main initiator and organizer of summits around the world. The UNWTO has been the most authoritative organization in the field of tourism development since 1975. The initiator of the summit shall bear the expenses for the organization and conduct of the summit independently, with the exception of the minimum cost of the host city. The holding of a summit in Astana next year will allow us to present the tourist and MICE-potential of our capital, noted in the akimat.

MICE Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions – an area of business travel industry related to the organization and holding of various corporate events. The effect of the exhibition is expected to improve the economic performance of small and medium businesses.

To date, 325 thousand Astana residents are employed in the city’s SME. If we take into account that as of January 1, 2018, the population of Astana was 1 million people, it turns out that every third resident of the capital is involved in SMEs. According to the latest data, there are 231 hotels in the city.

Holding a world forum – is one opportunity to declare about city as a new center of tourism in Central Asia, to demonstrate new directions in development of city, to strengthen cooperation with large international associations and companies. In result an increase in the occupancy rate of hotels, the demand for souvenirs, an increase in visitors to cafes and restaurants is expected. Thus, the forum will provide an opportunity to attract more international business, events and increase the flow of tourists to the capital.

Besides, Global Summit will attract leading experts in the field of tourism in Astana and will unite state and private partners from all sectors and play a fundamental role in the new paradigm of urban tourism development. So tourism will become an instrument of social cohesion and preservation of culture, in addition to the fundamental contribution it makes to economic activity.

We add that when deciding on an event in the capital, the following factors were taken into account: prospects for the development of urban tourism, the experience of successfully implemented projects and events, sustainable development, the economy, the social sphere, the environment and the administrative system of the capital.