Kazakhstan to unveil national plan for UNESCO heritage tourism
Kazakhstan aims to boost tourism, protect cultural heritage, and expand UNESCO recognition with 11 new nominations
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — Kazakhstan is set to launch a national plan by September this year to develop its UNESCO World Heritage Sites into major cultural tourism destinations, as part of a broader effort to elevate its historical identity and global visibility.
The initiative was announced by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, who emphasized the symbolic and economic significance of Kazakhstan’s heritage.
“These are our national treasures,” he said.
“We must turn them into centers that attract tourists. They need to be promoted globally — through films, books, exhibitions, and school textbooks.”
Kazakhstan currently has six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the Petroglyphs of Tamgaly, the Cold Winter Deserts of Turan, and the Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor of the ancient Silk Roads, which includes Kayalyk, Talgar, and Akyrtas.
The Ministry of Culture and Information has been tasked with preparing a draft national strategy for the protection and promotion of cultural heritage by September 1.
A national inventory of historical and cultural sites is expected to be submitted to UNESCO by August 1, while regional authorities have been directed to integrate heritage protection zones into state land registries by September 15.
As part of this effort, Kazakhstan is aiming to add 11 more monuments to the UNESCO World Heritage List by 2026.
Two nomination dossiers have already been submitted: the Rocky Mosques of the Mangystau Peninsula (individual) and the Silk Roads: Fergana–Syrdarya Corridor (transnational), in partnership with Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Additionally, submissions have been made for the recognition of Salburyn (a traditional hunting ritual) and the epic poem Alpamys Batyr under UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.
Kazakhstan has already expanded its national list of intangible heritage elements from 45 to 79, with 14 now inscribed on UNESCO’s global lists — including the betashar wedding ritual, assyk atu game, Kazakh wrestling (kazakh kuresi), and kui performance.
Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva said the government’s heritage strategy is focused on three pillars: strengthening the protection of UNESCO-designated monuments, preserving intangible or “living” cultural traditions, and enhancing the accessibility and documentation of historical records under the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
Kazakhstan currently has four documentary entries on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, the latest being the Khandar Shezhiresi, an 18th-century genealogy of Kazakh khans (rulers).
Balayeva also noted that Kazakhstan recognizes more than 25,000 heritage sites, including 265 of national significance and over 12,000 locally designated sites.
The comprehensive plan will incorporate educational content, public awareness campaigns, and the development of tourism routes to enhance both domestic and international engagement with Kazakhstan’s rich cultural landscape.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
