Astana (TDI): Kazakhstan is embarking on the largest all-season tourism initiative in Central Asia with plans to develop a world-class ski resort near Almaty.
The mega project will stretch from Talgar in the east to Kaskelen in the west, creating an integrated mountain tourism corridor.
The plan for the Almaty Mountain Cluster (AMC) envisions up to seven hundred kilometers of ski trails, fifty eight lifts, modern hotels, glamping sites, biking paths, and cable cars.
By 2029, the project aims to accommodate up to thirty four tourists daily and create over ten thousand jobs, positioning the AMC as the region’s premier year-round destination.
Global collaboration is central to the initiative, with concepts presented by international companies including Horwath HTL (US), Stem International (France), and PGI Management (Andorra).
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French consultant Vincent Tassard emphasized the value of year-round tourism and sustainable practices like renewable energy and digital environmental monitoring.
PGI President Joan Viladomat introduced the “Almaty SuperSki” concept, featuring sixty five kilometers of trails across the Kok-Zhailau tract and Kumbel peak.
The project also includes broader improvements to local tourist sites. The Medeu ECO Park concept has been introduced with facilities for family entertainment and preserved landscapes.
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The Gorenlik visitor center and Jumbaq Jol trail are operational, and a suspension bridge, capable of accommodating ten thousand people daily, is scheduled to open in July.
Almaty SuperSki project leader Thomas Tor Jensen said that half of the ski runs will be suitable for beginners and the whole infrastructure will be accessible to people with disabilities.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
