The Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism held a cultural tourism promotion conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan on March 17, local time, to actively explore the Central Asia market.

Hunan holds a cultural tourism promotion conference in Kazakhstan. (Photo provided by the organizer)

Themed "Welcome to Charming Hunan," the promotion conference aimed to enhance international communication and overseas promotion of Hunan's inbound tourism and to explore the Kazakhstani market. Over 60 participants attended, including spokespersons for the Tourism Department of Almaty City and the cities of Konayev and Alatau, as well as representatives from the Almaty Tourism Association, and Kazakhstani travel agencies and airlines.

At the conference, the Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism promoted Hunan's five cultural and tourism calling cards and inbound tourism routes through images and videos. Spokespersons for Yiyang City and the Hunan Airport Group respectively gave briefings on Yiyang's cultural tourism resources, and on international flight services, facilitation measures for inbound travelers, and future plans of Changsha and Zhangjiajie airports. The initiative further enhanced Kazakhstani industry professionals' understanding of Hunan's cultural tourism sector.

Participating guests view the Hunan Cultural Tourism Photo Exhibition. (Photo provided by the organizer)

On the Kazakhstani side, the Almaty Tourist Information Center, the Investment Promotion Bureau, the city of Alatau, SCAT Airlines, and local tourism enterprises presented Almaty's tourism resources and investment policies, development plans for the Alatau Special Economic Zone, international flight routes, and tourism products.

2025 marks the "China Tourism Year" in Kazakhstan and the "Year for Hunan's Inbound Tourism Development." A representative from the Tourism Department of Almaty City noted that Hunan, with its rich tourism resources, is a highly desirable destination for Kazakhstani tourists. The spokesperson expressed the hope that the promotion conference will help deepen bilateral exchanges, promote resource sharing, and facilitate tourist flows.

An official from the Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism emphasized the importance of strengthening cultural tourism cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, aiming for mutual benefits and win-win results.