The tourism and investment potential of the Turkestan Region is set to be promoted internationally in Malaysia. As part of efforts to strengthen international cooperation, Deputy Akim of the Turkestan Region Kanat Kaiypbek met with a Malaysian delegation led by Datuk Manoharan, Chairman of Tourism Malaysia.
The parties discussed promoting Turkestan’s tourism opportunities in the Malaysian market, increasing the flow of foreign visitors, implementing investment projects and establishing mutually beneficial cooperation.
Kanat Kaiypbek highlighted the region’s significant tourism potential, noting that historical and cultural, ecological, as well as health and wellness tourism are developing actively across the region.
Particular attention was paid to air connectivity. Turkestan International Airport has the capacity to serve up to 3 million passengers annually. In this regard, the Kazakh side expressed its readiness to consider proposals for launching direct air links between Malaysia and Turkestan.
“We plan to participate in an upcoming exhibition and trade fair in Malaysia to showcase the opportunities of the Turkestan Region. We are ready to implement joint projects with international partners and support promising investment initiatives,” said the Deputy Akim.
Datuk Manoharan expressed strong interest in Turkestan’s historical and cultural heritage and natural attractions. According to him, the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi and the region’s mountain tourism sites could become particularly attractive destinations for Malaysian travelers.
“The majority of Malaysia’s population is Muslim, which makes the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi especially significant to us. We are interested in working together with the Turkestan Region and further developing tourism ties between our countries,” Datuk Manoharan said.
The meeting was also attended by Fu Hong, Managing Director of Malaysian tourism company Corporate Information Travel. The company, which has more than 40 years of experience in the tourism industry, is exploring new international destinations and has identified Kazakhstan as a market of particular interest.
The participants also discussed the possibility of organizing travel routes through Kazakhstan to European countries, as well as Umrah pilgrimage trips to Mecca.
Following the meeting, the parties agreed to continue cooperation on the mutual promotion of tourism destinations, strengthening business and information ties, exploring opportunities for direct air connectivity and implementing joint tourism projects.
Increasing Turkestan’s international visibility and attracting more foreign tourists remain among the key priorities for the development of the region’s tourism industry.