Kazakhstan to create Central Asia’s largest Mountain Cluster by 2029Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has endorsed the master plan for the comprehensive development of the Almaty Mountain Cluster, with the state covering infrastructure construction costs."The master plan for the Almaty Mountain Cluster’s integrated development outlines three prospective zones stretching from Turgen to Kaskelen: eastern, central, and western. It envisions developing 300 to 700 km of ski slopes with world-class infrastructure and public accessibility. These measures are expected to increase daily visitor capacity by 5.6 times—from 6,000 to 34,000 people—and create over 10,000 new jobs. By 2029, the Almaty Mountain Cluster is projected to become Central Asia’s largest all-season tourism project," stated the press service following Bektenov’s working visit to Almaty.Bektenov emphasized that the state will fund infrastructure development, including transportation, roads, utilities, and ski facilities."Once the infrastructure is ready, businesses and investments will follow. Experts estimate that every dollar invested in mountain infrastructure attracts two dollars in private investment for resort infrastructure," he added.Askar Valiyev, Secretary-General of the National Ski Association of Kazakhstan, proposed reviving the Almaty Mountain Cluster’s development, including the Kok-Zhailau project, which was suspended in 2019.Earlier reports noted that the Kok-Zhailau resort construction was halted in 2019 on the recommendation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Environmentalists, NGOs, and activists had opposed the project, warning of its adverse impact on Almaty’s ecology and the Kok-Zhailau area itself. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX