BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 22. Kazakhstan projects
that revenues from eco-tourism will rise to $6.4 million by 2030,
said Mansur Oshurbaev, Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural
Resources of Kazakhstan, at the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 in
Astana, Trend
reports.
“If previously eco-tourism revenues in Kazakhstan amounted to
around $0.6 million, today they have increased to $2.6 million,” he
said.
Oshurbaev noted that this growth reflects a broader
transformation of the country’s environmental policy, which
prioritizes nature-based solutions and sustainable ecosystem
management. He stressed that eco-tourism is becoming a tool that
simultaneously supports nature conservation and creates local
economic opportunities.
He also linked the development of the sector to efforts to
strengthen the financial sustainability of protected areas.
According to him, Kazakhstan is already implementing results-based
management approaches for protected natural areas, which has
increased state funding from $22.5 million to $71 million.
The vice minister added that eco-tourism is developing alongside
broader efforts to attract investment into environmental
protection, including new biodiversity financing mechanisms and
cooperation with international organizations.
“We view eco-tourism as an important part of a sustainable
development system that helps engage the private sector, develop
regional economies, and strengthen nature protection at the same
time,” Oshurbaev said.
