WTO to open regional office in Kazakhstan
A regional office of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) is planned to be opened in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Almaty Governor Akhmetzhan Yesimov said.
"We have discussed the prospects of mountain tourism development in Almaty together with WTO representatives and agreed to open a regional office of the organization in our city," Yesimov said at a briefing on October 31.
He said that the WTO representatives have previously acquainted with the potential of Almaty and Alatau foothills, as well as the existing infrastructure.
Yesimov went on to say that tourism is the only sphere which increased by 4 per cent of GDP in developing countries as of 2012, while this figure was 10-15 per cent of GDP in developed countries and less than 1 percent in Kazakhstan.
"A decision was made to open a special college, where the specialists will be trained in the tourism sphere," Yesimov concluded.