There are 500 enterprises working in the sphere of tourism in Akmola region. Thanks to its unique nature and cultural heritage the region takes the lead in tourism in the country.
It boasts three national nature parks such as Burabai, Buiratau and Kokshetau, Korgalzhyn state nature reserve and 900 cultural monuments. Tengiz-Korgalzhyn lake system is included into the UNESCO World Heritage List, while Shchuchinsk-Borovoye resort zone ranks among top-10 of the touristification map of Kazakhstan as an all-season resort. Zerenda resort ranks among the top-50 regional tourist sites with great potential to develop ecological, cultural and ethno-tourism. Sandyktrau region is defined as a center for boosting agricultural, hunting and sports tourism, Arshaly, Akkol, Shortandy, Korgalzhyn and Tselinograd districts are set to develop family tourism.
The WHO announced on March 11, 2020 the coronavirus pandemic. Due to the negative scenarios coronavirus had an impact on the tourism industry. Resort and recreational zones were closed down in summer of 2020. 87 sites had permission to work amid quarantine restrictions in the region. Notably, six investment projects were carried out to develop tourist infrastructure, namely, construction of Promenade Burabay – BI-Group, construction of an aqua park, reconstruction of the buildings of Shchuchinsky sanatorium, etc., worth KZT 9.2 billion. 200 workplaces were created. Nine more investment projects worth KZT168 billion are being carried out. (Kazinform/Business World Magazine)