Kazakhstan is set to elevate its ski tourism sector to international standards through collaboration with one of the world’s leading ski resort developers, PGI Management. This initiative was discussed during a meeting between Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Joan Viladomat, President of PGI Management, held to explore strategic cooperation in developing ski tourism.
The meeting focused on the Almaty mountain cluster, a key hub for winter sports in Kazakhstan. Currently, the region attracts around 2mn tourists annually and supports 2,000 seasonal jobs. With 41 kilometers of pistes and 16 ski lifts, the existing infrastructure accommodates up to 6,000 visitors per day. However, growing demand from both domestic and international tourists signals the need for expansion and modernization.
Plans are underway to scale the infrastructure to 227 kilometers of pistes and 58 lifts, boosting the daily capacity to 34,000 visitors — a 5.6-fold increase. By 2029, the enhanced Almaty cluster is projected to welcome up to 7.5mn tourists per year and create 10,000 direct jobs.
Joan Viladomat shared insights from PGI Management’s global portfolio, which includes over 120 projects in renowned destinations such as Davos, St. Moritz (Switzerland), Courchevel (France), Ischgl and Tyrol (Austria), Vail and Aspen (USA), and Whistler-Blackcomb (Canada). The company also transformed Andorra into a thriving winter tourism hotspot, drawing 9.6mn visitors last year — a remarkable figure for a country of only 80,000 people.
Both sides emphasized the economic and social benefits of ski tourism, especially for mountainous regions. Viladomat presented examples of how tourism-focused strategies can drive structural economic change in rural and alpine areas.
The parties also highlighted the importance of inclusion and year-round tourism. Modernizing infrastructure will support educational programs for children to learn winter sports and expand options for family leisure activities.
Prime Minister Bektenov stressed the importance of diversifying Kazakhstan’s economy amid current global challenges. Tourism, he noted, should emerge as a key driver of growth alongside manufacturing, digitalization, and transport and logistics.
At the end of the meeting, both Kazakhstan and PGI Management expressed their commitment to jointly develop ski tourism infrastructure in line with global best practices.
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