INFLUENCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ON THE POPULARIZATION AND ACCESSIBILITY OF THE REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN AS TOURIST DESTINATIONS

ABSTRACT

To ensure stable development and competitiveness of the region, it is necessary to more effectively use the potential of domestic tourism. The role of tourism in the country's economy is growing from year to year. The article examines the issues of organizing and modern infrastructure to increase the tourist flow to the regions and use the full potential of tourist destinations.

Keywords: tourism infrastructure, tourist destinations, regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, tour operator, subsidies.

The development of tourism infrastructure directly depends on the economic situation both in the country and in the world, and initially proceeded uncontrollably and only recently began to apply regulations that began to regulate this part of tourist activity. The impetus for the creation of such normative documents in Kazakhstan was given by the creation of various kinds of programs, projects and concepts, as well as closer attention from the leadership of the country.

Unfortunately, as of today, the infrastructure of Kazakhstani tourism cannot compete at the same level with foreign ones, which is once again supported by the focus of local tour operators on outbound tourism. This is due to the convenience of using ready-made infrastructure schemes of foreign operators. It is this orientation that contributes to the outflow of tourist capital outside the republic, which negatively affects the country's economy. Thus, a circle of exit is formed, from which the tourism sector of Kazakhstan cannot find itself.

Picture 1. Circle of problems

However, every year, attention to the popularization of the development of domestic and inbound tourism in Kazakhstan is growing, in part due to the emphasis on the part of the country's leadership. So, for example, in his message to the people in 2019, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that special attention should be paid to the development of tourism, especially eco- and ethno-tourism, as an important sphere of the economy, as well as for the development of tourism, it is important to ensure the construction of the necessary infrastructure, primarily roads, and train qualified specialists [1].

Despite all the attempts being made, such as the allocation of grants for tourism specialties, subsidizing small and medium-sized businesses that attract and serve tourists in the regions, the development of tourism in the regions has not moved off the ground. The main problem in the development of tourism and the attractiveness of the regions is the lack of adequate transport accessibility of tourist destinations. About 50% or more of a tourist's spending on rest is taken up by the cost of transport to the place of rest and back. The main task at the moment is to facilitate access to tourist sites, to ensure comfort along the route of a tourist, including roadside services, airports, railway and bus stations. From our point of view, this can also include the regulation of pricing for the provision of transportation services, since Kazakhstan has one of the most expensive air flights within the country, which creates a negative attitude of citizens towards domestic tourism.

In 2018, at the direction of the President, the State Program for the Development of Inbound and Domestic Tourism in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2019 - 2023 was presented. In which, in paragraph 3.2, the transport accessibility of tourist destinations and facilities was considered, and an assessment was also given. Unfortunately, the data given in the report does not correspond much to the realities faced by tourists who decide to go on vacation within the country or interested foreigners. At the end of the praise of the state of the transport component of the tourism infrastructure, it was modestly noted that despite the systematic work carried out to improve the airport infrastructure and improve the quality of passenger service, so far, some airport terminals and runways are in dire need of reconstruction and modernization, and the quality of the services provided receives repeated complaints from passengers [2]. However, none of these points raises the acute issue of pricing for air transportation. But this is one of the most pressing problems, the solution of which will lead to an impetus for the development of domestic tourism and an increase in the attractiveness of the regions of Kazakhstan as objects of tourist destinations. Indeed, as we noted at the beginning of the article, the country's domestic tourism is in a vicious circle from which it is not possible to get out on our own. Here the state can come to the rescue in resolving this situation by establishing regulation of pricing for air tickets from domestic air carriers. At the moment, there are 6 airlines in the country that carry passengers both domestically and abroad. Which motivate high prices for domestic transportation due to high fuel and airport charges.

It is these provisions that the state should take under control, as much as possible to reduce prices for air travel, which will have a positive effect on the attractiveness of remote regions for tourists.

According to the Committee on Statistics of the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2020. air passenger prices decreased by 20% compared to 2019. The greatest reduction in the cost of services in the aviation sector was noted in Chimkent (by 51.3%), but in two regions services rose in price: in the Atyrau region at once by 18.5%, in the Kostanay region - by 4.3% [3].

However, as practice shows, this phenomenon is temporary and associated with the sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Citizens are already feeling the next increase in airfare. And if earlier vacationers had a choice of rest abroad at affordable prices, now the bulk of vacationers will remain in the city of permanent residence, since a trip to tourist attractive regions of the country will not be affordable for them.

At the moment, a proposal from the transport committee to subsidize domestic flights across the country to TOP-10 facilities is being considered with the subsequent development and approval of a mechanism for subsidizing free air travel for children on the basis of "KIDS GO FREE". The practice "KIDS GO FREE" has a wide international practice. Thus, it is used by the UAE airlines (FlyDubai, AirArabia) and the domestic company Air Astana JSC for flights to the UAE in the summer season. It is also used in many developed countries of the world, such as: Great Britain (British Airways), Qatar (Qatar Airways), Taiichi (Air Tahiti Nui), Scandinavian countries (Scandinavian Airlines). For most, the promotion applies to children under 15 years old inclusive, and provides two free tickets for children per parent.

From this it follows that Kazakhstan, having a huge tourist potential and territory, has no right to let the development of regional tourism take its course. The correlation of the development and influence of infrastructure on the popularization and accessibility of the regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan as tourist destinations is obvious. It is transport inaccessibility, high cost and lack of comfort in the bud that suppresses the desire not only of foreign tourists to explore the regions of the country, but also of their own citizens. This topic gained relevance precisely during the pandemic, since people, unable to go on vacation abroad, in fact remained locked in their cities and regions due to the lack of adequate infrastructure.

Despite the fact that in 2020-2021. all attention was focused on solving the problems of the economy and health care; postponing the development of domestic tourism could be fraught in the future. As you know, tourism satisfies people's need for recreation by changing the environment. People began to specifically walk and go to places where they can relax, rest, escape from the usual hustle and bustle, it is at this moment that a person recovers his strength. Considering that for the year of the pandemic and quarantine, people are tired enough and need rest, which they are deprived of due to the lack of elementary roads and affordable prices for air travel within their country.

References:

1. Message from the Head of State Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev to the people of Kazakhstan dated 02.09.2019. Part III, paragraph 3. https: //www.akorda.kz/ru (date of treatment 02/20/2021)
2. State program for the development of the tourism industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2019-2025. Approved by the decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 05/31/2019. No. 360
3. Official site of the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan. https://stat.gov.kz/ (date of access 02.21.2021)