484 session registrations
A bilateral roundtable
Tourism leaders discussed the product potential of Kazakhstan and Russia, knowledge gaps, personal contacts and air connectivity.
Strategic & Special Projects · Kazakhstan-Russia Connect
Building tourism partnerships between Kazakhstan and Russia.
An industry forum in Almaty brought tourism authorities, airlines, tour operators and hotels from two markets together for product presentations, business meetings and a live broadcast.
1,111
travel professionals registered
785
professionals attended the forum
179
participants at the Almaty venue
606
online participants
The challenge
Tourism businesses in Kazakhstan and Russia saw opportunities for mutual growth, but limited product knowledge and a lack of personal contacts made cooperation harder. Tourism authorities also needed a forum to discuss practical issues, including air connectivity.
We designed CONNECT to bring the relevant people together, introduce the tourism products of both markets and create space for direct business conversations.
What we delivered
01
Public-sector and industry participation
We organised the forum at Rixos Almaty with the support of the city’s Department of Tourism and Foreign Relations, bringing public-sector representatives, trade associations and tourism businesses into the same discussion.
02
A programme serving both markets
A bilateral roundtable was followed by ten presentations of Kazakhstan tourism products and eight presentations from Russia and the CIS. The programme connected discussion of market potential with specific products and suppliers.
03
Direct business conversations
A workshop allowed professionals to ask questions and exchange contacts. Closed meetings brought together senior representatives of tour operators, airlines, hotels and other tourism businesses.
04
Participation beyond Almaty
We combined the physical event with a live online broadcast. Professionals outside the venue could follow the programme and take part in product presentations without travelling to Almaty.
THE FORUM PROGRAMME
From market discussion to product and partner contact.
The agenda gave tourism authorities and businesses several ways to meet, compare opportunities and present their products.
710 session registrations
10 Kazakhstan presentations
Kazakhstan suppliers introduced their tourism products to professionals in the room and to the online audience.
258 session registrations
8 Russia & CIS presentations
Destinations and businesses presented products for the Kazakhstan trade audience and professionals joining online.
Who we brought together
Public sector & industry organisations
Almaty’s Department of Tourism and Foreign Relations, Atameken, the Astana EXPO 2017 national company, the tourism association in Astana and the Association of Travel Agencies of Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan travel suppliers
Air Astana, SCAT Airlines, Kazunion, Astana Convention Bureau and Rixos Almaty took part alongside other local tourism businesses.
Russian destinations & operators
The delegation included tourism organisations from Tatarstan and the Sverdlovsk Region, tour operators Alean and Kandagar, and hotel groups.
THE AUDIENCE
Participation across borders and beyond the venue.
The online broadcast brought professionals from Russia and Kazakhstan into the programme alongside the audience at Rixos Almaty.
Russian registrations included 242 from Moscow and the Central Federal District, 196 from the Urals, 68 from Southern Russia, 67 from the Northwest and 54 from Siberia, with further registrations from other regions.
LIVE PARTICIPATION
785 professionals attended- At Rixos Almaty
- 179onsite participants
- Following online
- 606349 from Russia
257 from Kazakhstan
The result
The first reported outcome was a cooperation agreement signed between the tourism association in Astana and the Sverdlovsk Region Tourism Development Centre. It gave the relationship between the two organisations a formal basis for further work.
The forum connected product presentations, public-sector dialogue and direct business meetings in one format. Its final report recorded 1,111 registered professionals and 785 participants across the venue and online broadcast.
AT THE FORUM
Inside Kazakhstan-Russia Connect.
The original forum presentation, with footage of the roundtable and participants.
Russian · 1 min 40 secWatch on YouTube ↗
Cross-border relationships, built around the industry.
We bring tourism authorities, suppliers and professional audiences together through market knowledge, relevant partners and a substantive business programme.