TOURISM IN A TIME OF CHANGE – OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH, DIGITALIZATION AND GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS AT KITF 2025
FROM APRIL 23 TO 25, 2025, THE KAZAKHSTAN INTERNATIONAL «TOURISM AND TRAVEL» EXHIBITION - KITF 2025, ONE OF THE MAIN EVENTS OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY OF CENTRAL ASIA, WILL BE HELD IN ALMATY ON THE TERRITORY OF THE «ATAKENT» KCBC.
The event will once again bring together the professional community for productive dialogue, demonstration of the tourism potential of countries and regions, presentation of new routes, hotel concepts and development of interstate partnership.
According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), international tourism has almost reached pre-pandemic levels in 2024, with international tourist arrivals projected to grow by 3-5% in 2025 compared to 2024. Taking into account the above data, in the context of rapidly growing interest in sustainable tourism, the development of new destinations and the digitalization of tourism services, the KITF exhibition is becoming especially relevant.
To date, more than 400 companies from 26 countries, including key players from Azerbaijan, Vietnam, Greece, Georgia, Egypt, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Qatar, China, Cuba, the Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, the Maldives, the UAE, Russia, Romania, Slovenia, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Montenegro, the Czech Republic, Sri Lanka, South Korea and Japan, have confirmed their participation. Such a wide geographic coverage indicates high international interest in the Kazakhstan market and the tourism destination of Central Asia as a whole.
It is expected that during the exhibition days it will be visited by over 5,000 industry professionals, including representatives of travel agencies, air agencies and tour operators, travel bloggers and travel experts, MICE industry specialists, hoteliers, transport companies, as well as digital service professionals.
One of the features of the expo event will be the active participation of the regions of Kazakhstan. The exhibition will feature stands from 14 regions of the republic, demonstrating the countryэs tourism potential. Akmola region, Almaty, East Kazakhstan region, Karaganda region, Kyzylorda region, Turkestan region, North Kazakhstan region, Atyrau region, Pavlodar region, Mangistau region, Ulytau region, Zhetysu Travel, Almaty region, Zhambyl region will present their unique tourism offers. Demonstration of tourism routes, new destinations, cultural features and natural attractions of each region will allow a wide audience to get to know the diversity and uniqueness of domestic tourism in Kazakhstan.
Participants and visitors of the exhibition will be able not only to get acquainted with the exposition, but also to take part in a rich business program, the central point of which will be the KITF Travel Forum with this year’s topic TREND ZONE: BEYOND TRAVEL, where strategic sessions, panel discussions and specialized workshops will be held. On the first day of the exhibition, April 23, attention will be focused on global changes, business adaptation, new technologies and key trends in tourism. As part of the business program, there will be a sightseeing tour of the exhibition, as well as a Strategic Plenary Meating of the Ministries of Tourism of Central and East Asia «State Support for Tourism in the Age of Digital Technologies and International Integration». Representatives of the Ministries overseeing tourism in foreign countries of East and Central Asia (China, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, South Korea) and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan will take part in the meeting. The discussion will cover issues of budget strategies for promoting tourism, attracting solvent tourists, state support for small and medium-sized businesses, as well as the infrastructural development of tourism clusters. During the day, there will be 5 thematic sessions where speakers will discuss current issues and share their experience. Session topics: «Next-gen travel: strategies and transformation of the industry», «New routes: Asian boom, combi-tours, digital visas and paperless borders», «Aviation 2025+: new routes, competition in the sky and the race for passengers», «High-personalization and technology: from big data, AI to predictive tourism», «AMBASSADOR TRAVEL: How bloggers are becoming the main players in the industry».
On the second day, April 24, the program will cover topics of expertise, successful cases and current strategies. The business program will include a Panel Session: Medical Tourism Ecosystem: How to Combine Medicine, Hospitality and Logistics? and a Session: «Tour Guide of the New Time: Traditions, Challenges and Innovations in the Development of Domestic and Inbound Tourism». Luxury tourism experts, luxury brand marketers, and representatives of elite hotel chains will share their experience at the Master Class: «How to Sell Expensively: Premium Tourism and Unique Impressions». During the Coffee Rave, participants and visitors will be able to establish contact and discuss key industry issues with experts in an informal setting. Experts will analyze 3 real travel cases from the audience and show how to make them viral and commercially successful at the Roast «Content Analysis in Real Time». There will also be a Presentation: «Marketplace and IT Solutions for the Tourism Business: Automate and Earn». At the end of the business program, there will be a Final Discussion: «What to do tomorrow? Anti-crisis and viral strategies for growth» with TOP experts, strategists and digital futurologists of the industry.
On the final day of the exhibition, April 25, the agenda will include issues dedicated to domestic tourism. Specialists and representatives of the regional Tourism Departments of the Republic of Kazakhstan will hold Master classes and presentations on domestic and inbound tourism «How to create a domestic product competitive». Also, a business project competition will be held as part of the anniversary event dedicated to the 60th anniversary of Edward Strachan, the Founder and First Head of ITECA Kazakhstan Exhibition Company «I CHOOSE TOURISM!».
KITF is an opportunity to be at the epicenter of events, exchange knowledge, expand business horizons and shape the future of the global tourism industry together. It is not only a meeting place for professionals, but also a strategic platform that sets the vector for the development of the industry.
Official partners of the exhibition are Kompas Touroperator, Georgian National Tourism Administration.
Partners of the business program are Trand Buro and Success Travel Academy.
Official support for the event is provided by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Akimat of Almaty city, Kazakh Tourism National Company JSC, Kompas, and Kazakhstan Tourism Association ALE.
The event is organized by the Kazakhstani exhibition company Iteca and its international partner – the ICA Events Group.
You can find out all the additional information and see the list of participants in more detail on the website: www.kitf.kz
You can get a ticket to the exhibition for free admission by pre-registering online on the website www.kitf.kz using the promo code KITF2025GG
