Kazakh prime minister orders government to attract investors in short-haul commercial aviationPrime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has ordered the government create favorable conditions for potential investors in the short-haul commercial aviation for development of domestic tourism in the regions of Kazakhstan.“The short-haul aviation can be one of the stimuli for tourism development, so the Ministry of Transport needs to revisit the [aerodrome] infrastructure [for small commercial planes], to create favorable conditions for potential investors, to introduce necessary flight safety regulations, and to study the best practices that are in use in the neighboring states and foreign countries,” Bektenov said at a Tuesday meeting of the government.The use of small aircraft and helicopters, which would bring tourists to remote nature destinations of Kazakhstan, will not require complicated ground infrastructure, according to the prime minister.“Such air services would allow tourists to quickly reach, for instance, Katon [the Katon-Karagai nature reserve in the East Kazakhstan region] and the Rakhmanovsky Springs [the mineral waters resort in East Kazakhstan] from Ust-Kamenogorsk. Such an approach would help increase the potential of our nature reserves and historic sites [as tourist destinations],” Bektenov said.The prime minister ordered the ministries of transport and tourism and the local administrations to complete infrastructure projects in recreational areas, and to increase, together with Samruk-Kazyna, the frequency of railway services and to regulate the prices of air tickets.The Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the regional administrations will propose new projects for development of agri- and ecotourism.“The nature and tourist attractions in Kazakhstan offer enormous opportunities for development of ecological, cultural, pilgrimage and health tourism in the country. The businesses, in turn, should make sure that the tourist sites are treated with great care and the tourists are offered high-quality services at reasonable prices, which also includes airfares and railway tickets,” Bektenov said. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX