The Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism (until 2011 – the Department of Tourism) was founded in 1996 by Stanislav Ramazanovich, Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Professor Yerdavletov, who led it from the moment of its foundation until 2009. Since 2009, the department has been headed by Candidate of Technical Sciences, Honored Instructor of Tourism of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alexander Mikhailovich Artemyev. Since its foundation, the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism has been training highly qualified personnel with higher and postgraduate education for the tourism and hospitality sector of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Notable alumni of the Department

• Zh. G. Alchimbayeva-Head of the Department of the State Institution "Tourism Department of Almaty region".
• Podvalov A. YU. - Candidate of Historical Sciences, in 2007-2010. He was assistant in the office of the Senate of the Kazakh Parliament, in 2007-2012 honorary Consul of the Republic of Cyprus in the Republic of Kazakhstan, currently Director of LLP "Caspian Travel Company".
• Akaev A.M.-2014-2017 – RSU "Ile - Alatau State National Natural Park". Position: Head of the Department of Environmental Education, Tourism and Nature Management. 2019-present, Chief Specialist of the Department of Protected Areas, RSE "PO Okhotzooprom" of the Committee of Forestry and Wildlife of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
• Eshchanova A.-Akimat of Almaty
• Nurgozhin D.-General Director of the restaurant chain "Rumi".
• Abzhanov A. - founder of the leadership school "Zhana urpak".
• D. Serzhanuly-Chief Manager of the Department of Promotion and Tourism of JSC NC "Astana EXPO-2017", Director of the Department of Event Organization of JSC NC "Kazakh Tourism".
• Kim A.-General Director of "ProHospitality Group" LLP.

S. R. Erdavletov doctor of geographical sciences, professor, gentleman of the signs "Honorable worker of tourism of the Republic of Kazakhstan" and "For Merits in development of tourism of the Republic of Kazakhstan". He is the famous Soviet geographer and tourismologist, the first in Kazakhstan and Central Asia the doctor of science who defended the dissertation on tourism. Recognized authority on the Republic of Kazakhstan and the CIS countries, he is the author more than 320 scientific works. S. R. Erdavletov the author of the Kazakhstan's first theoretical works and manuals on tourism geography, he is the founder of this new very perspective scientific direction. He created two fundamental educational editions on preparation of tourist shots: textbook "Tourism geography: history, theory, methods, practice" (Almaty, 2000) and manual "Tourism history.

Development and scientific studying" (Almaty, 2003) which were processed, added and republished in 2010. S.R. Erdavletov's merits in training of highly skilled specialists geographers are considerable. Under his guide 10 scientists defended dissertations on competition of an academic degree of the candidate of geographical sciences in the specialty 25.00.24 - economic, social and political geography. Many of his former students and graduate students successfully work in scientific institutions and higher education institutions of the republic, on production. In 2011 S. R. Erdavletov is awarded by a breastplate "The honorable educator of the Republic of Kazakhstan" for long work in system of the higher education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, high professionalism, achieved success in teaching and educational work and active participation in public work. In 2012 S.R. Erdavletov was entitled "The best teacher of HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2012 year".