Preparing Kazakhstan’s Future Leaders in Ecotourism

Ecotourism today is more than just a trend - but a response to global challenges. In response to climate change and biodiversity loss, people are increasingly choosing sustainable travel — enjoying nature while helping to protect it.

Kazakhstan is already embracing this global trend. The country is home to 14 national parks and 10 nature reserves, each with its own unique landscapes and biodiversity. Over the past four years, interest in nature-based travel has grown significantly. In 2021, 1.5 million people visited Kazakhstan’s national parks; in 2024, that number had nearly doubled to 2.8 million - an 18 percent increase from the previous year.

This rising demand for ecotourism reflects a growing awareness, but it also puts added pressure on fragile ecosystems. That is why developing sustainable tourism and training young specialists who can balance growth with conservation has become more important than ever. 

The West-Altai Nature Reserve. Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/Alexandr Klimenko

In 2023, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) within the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), introduced a training course on ecotourism. In 2024, learning modules on the standardization of tourism services were also added. The course consists of three modules and covers main topics such as ecotourism management and standardization of ecotourism services. Today, the course is taught in Kazakh, English, and Russian, helping students master modern approaches to sustainable tourism.

Alina, Bagdaulet, and Kamila - a new generation of specialists who will shape sustainable tourism in Kazakhstan. Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/Roman Liberchuk

Kamila Akhanova, Bagdaulet Toksanbayev, and Alina Ryspaeva, fourth-year students in the Tourism program, were among the first to take this course. They study together, are close friends, and vividly remember their first major outdoor trip early in their studies. For two weeks, they lived in tents in the mountains, experiencing complete harmony with nature. This adventure taught them responsibility for themselves and others, while also fostering a sense of freedom and team spirit. For them, ecotourism is not just dry theory – it is an integral part of their shared story.

Kamila has loved hiking in the mountains since she was a child. During her ecotourism classes, she began to realize that tourism should not only be comfortable for people but also safe for the environment.

"It’s important to manage the number of visitors on trails and routes to protect natural areas. Tourism must be sustainable - otherwise, we risk losing the natural treasures that draw us to national parks and reserves”, she says.

Since childhood, Kamila has been hiking in the mountains, so the ecotourism course became not only part of her studies but also an important extension of her hobby. Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/Roman Liberchuk

Bagdaulet chose tourism because of his interest in geography and English. He plans to work as a guide-translator, sharing with visitors to Almaty not only information about local sights but also insights on responsible travel.

"I realized that as a guide, I can shape tourists’ experiences while also educating them about ecological awareness. I believe, it is important for people to understand that leisure can go hand in hand with caring for nature and respecting local communities", he says.

Bagdaulet dreams of becoming a guide and interpreter to share the idea of conscious travel with tourists. Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/Roman Liberchuk

Alina also shares her plans for the future. She is confident that Kazakhstan has tremendous potential to develop ecotourism, which will shape the country’s tourism landscape over the next decade.

"Kazakhstan has a rich natural and cultural heritage. The tourism of the future must be sustainable, which means not only ensuring visitor comfort but also reducing carbon footprints and protecting flora and fauna. This is why such subjects are so important in universities,”  she emphasizes.

Alina plans to organize tours, including trips to national parks and nature reserves. Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/Roman Liberchuk

Students note that many of their peers do not know what ecotourism is, which is why it is important to talk about it more often and in a more accessible way, using social media - the channels most reachable to the young generation.

The new academic year has started not only for the students but also for the teachers who prepare future specialists. For them, the ecotourism course is the result of years of research, expeditions to national parks, and collaboration with UNDP.

Professor and Head of the Sustainable Tourism Laboratory, Alexandr Artemyev, has been working at the university since 2000 and has trained multiple generations of specialists. He is recognized as one of Kazakhstan’s leading experts in ecotourism and sustainable practices.

"The idea for the course came as a natural outcome of our expeditions within UNDP projects, during which we visited most of the country’s national parks and reserves. We saw the challenges firsthand, drew conclusions, studied international experience, and understood that this knowledge must be shared with students,” the professor explains.

Professor Alexandr Artemyev is a leading expert on sustainable tourism in Kazakhstan and played a key role in developing the ecotourism courses. Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/Roman Liberchuk

Artemyev emphasizes that tourism cannot exist without environmental safety. With the growing number of visitors to natural areas, it is essential to implement modern measures such as new eco-trails, visitor quotas, and digital logistics to help manage human impact.

Aliya Aktymbaeva, Dean of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Management, adds:

"If a student learns the basics of ecotourism, they will pass that knowledge on to others. This creates a ripple effect of responsible behavior in nature. We are committed to developing this field and actively collaborate with international universities to exchange experience and promote ecotourism across Central Asia."

Faculty Dean Aliya Aktymbayeva believes the development of ecotourism is impossible without preparing young professionals. Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/Roman Liberchuk

The development and introduction of the course at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University became part of a broader UNDP-BIOFIN initiative aimed at helping Kazakhstan build financial and institutional solutions for biodiversity conservation.

In the fall of 2024, UNDP-BIOFIN and the university signed a memorandum of cooperation to promote sustainable tourism and integrate modern practices into educational programs. In June 2025, Kazakhstan adopted the national standard ST RK 2993 “Tourism Services. Ecotourism. General Requirements.” The standard outlines requirements for infrastructure, safety, and environmental practices, including biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, environmental education, solid waste recycling, and the use of energy-efficient technologies.

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University is the first in the country to introduce an ecotourism course. Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/Roman Liberchuk

The adoption of a national standard for ecotourism lays the foundation for responsible environmental practices across all levels of the tourism sector - from university programs to national parks and tour operators.

These approaches align with international best practices. Universities in Australia, Canada, China, the United States, and the United Kingdom have already introduced ecotourism programs that prepare the next generation of professionals. This reflects Kazakhstan’s movement in step with global trends - developing skilled specialists who can integrate international approaches into the national context.

UNDP and the BIOFIN initiative plan to expand the ecotourism course to other universities across Kazakhstan. Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/Roman Liberchuk

The ecotourism course has already been made available online, making it accessible not only to university students, but also to anyone interested - including guides and tour operators. In the future, the course is expected to be gradually introduced in other universities across Kazakhstan.

Alina, Bagdaulet, and Kamila are confident that knowledge about ecotourism will help them build a career so that Kazakhstan becomes not just a point on the map for travelers, but also an example of a responsible attitude to nature. They once again recall with nostalgia their first camping trip together:

"Outdoor recreation is becoming more and more popular among young people. It is more important that, along with this trend, responsibility for the world around us is formed. The ecotourism course teaches you exactly that," the students say.

Credit: The story was written by the UNDP Kazakhstan Country Office.