STUDENT BUSINESS PROJECT COMPETITION: A CHANCE TO MAKE A NAME AT KITF 2025
TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE START OF THE 23RD KAZAKHSTAN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM AND TRAVEL EXHIBITION - KITF 2025, WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE STUDENT BUSINESS PROJECT COMPETITION “I CHOOSE TOURISM!”, DEDICATED TO THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF EDWARD STRAWN, THE FOUNDER AND FIRST HEAD OF ITECA KAZAKHSTAN EXHIBITION COMPANY.
The co-organizers of the competition are the Department of International Tourism Management and the Department of Hospitality Management of the Faculty of Management and International Communications of Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages.
The choice of Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages as a partner of the competition is symbolic. This university played an important role in the professional development of Edward Strawn - it was here, 30 years ago, that he began his career. For decades, the university has remained a leading multidisciplinary scientific and educational institution, providing professional training in 10 languages of the world. And the departments of international tourism management and hospitality management of the faculty of management and international communications prepare future specialists capable of developing the tourism industry of Kazakhstan and promoting it at the international level. Today, students of Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages have a unique opportunity not only to demonstrate their potential, but also to receive a professional assessment of their ideas from leading industry experts.
The competition will be held in two stages, the first stage of the preliminary selection of projects will be held from March 15 to March 30, 2025. The projects that make it to the finals will be reviewed by members of an independent professional jury at the KITF exhibition platform. The jury will include representatives of government agencies, industry associations, Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages and Iteca.
It is no coincidence that the KITF exhibition, a key platform for tourism development in Central Asia, was chosen as the venue for determining the winners among the finalists of the competition. It is KITF, uniting leading market players, government representatives and international partners, that creates favorable conditions for the formation of new tourism initiatives, exchange of experience and introduction of innovative solutions. Holding the final of the competition within the framework of such a significant event emphasizes the importance of ideas of youth people for the future of the industry and opens up new professional prospects for the participants. The best projects will not only be awarded with cash prizes, but will also have a chance for real support and further development in the tourism ecosystem of Kazakhstan.
The purpose of the competition is to attract young people to the implementation of innovative tourism projects, to foster a sense of patriotism by raising awareness of young people about the tourism resources of Kazakhstan. The competition is aimed at identifying creative ideas in the field of tourism. Students of 1-4 years will take part in it, presenting projects related to the development of tourism routes, regional tourism, advertising and information activities, sacred tourism, domestic and foreign tourism and other relevant areas.
Taking into account the successful results of the 2024 exhibition, which brought together more than 5,000 visitors and 406 participants from different countries, KITF 2025 promises to expand the scale and content of the event, attracting even more industry representatives.
Already today, national groups from Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Slovenia, Kazakhstan and Russia (represented by the stands of St. Petersburg and the Altai Territory) have been declared as exhibitors.
The central element of the business program will be the KITF Travel Forum, which will include seminars and presentations. Attending the business program sessions will also allow aspiring tourism professionals to gain up-to-date knowledge of current trends and discuss the most important issues of tourism development.
The event is officially supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Akimat of Almaty city, Kazakh Tourism National Company JSC, Kompas, Kazakhstan Tourism Association ALE.
The event is organized by Iteca Kazakhstan Exhibition Company and its international partner - ICA Events Group of Companies.
KITF 2025 continues its mission to develop the tourism potential of Kazakhstan and create new opportunities for the professional community and youth. Don’t miss your chance to become part of this unique event!
