The preliminary defense of the PhD Thesis for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree by Shaken A.Sh. was completed

On April 11, 2024, an extended meeting of the Recreation Geography and Tourism Department of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) was held in a hybrid format. The aim of the meeting was the preliminary defense of the PhD Thesis by doctoral student Shaken Aiman Shakenkyzy on the topic “DETERMINANTS OF AGRITOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN ALMATY REGION”for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in the specialty “6D090200 – Tourism”.

Academic advisors: D.Sc. in Geography, Associate Professor Plokhih R.V. (Al-Farabi Kazakh National University); Dr.Hab, Professor Mika M. (Poland).

Reviewers: Head of the educational program “Tourism and Hospitality” at Narhoz University, PhD, Associate Professor Abenova E.A.; Senior lecturer at the Recreation Geography and Tourism Department of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, PhD Artemyev A.M.

The meeting was attended by 51 specialists, including the members of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and invited guests from the following organizations: Institute of Geography and Water Safety; L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University; Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University; Narxoz University; Almaty Technological University; Almaty Management University; Kenzhegali Sagadiyev International Business University; Belgorod State National Research University; Ural Federal University; Altai State University; Nikitsky Botanical Garden – National Scientific Center of RAS (Yalta); Jagiellonian University (Krakow, Poland).

The research of the applicant at systematizing and analyzing the determinants of agritourism development in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan is aimed. The term “determinants” originates from the Latin word “determinare,” which means “to determine” or “to establish”. Although the terms “determinants” and “factors” may seem similar, they have differences in meaning and usage. Determinants are key variables or conditions that directly determine or influence an object, process, or phenomenon. The term is used to describe complex and multi-faceted factors that influence complex processes or phenomena, such as the health of agritourists, business processes in agritourism, etc. Factors, on the other hand, are any variables or conditions that may influence the studied object or phenomenon but do not necessarily determine it directly. The term is universal and widely used to describe any variables or conditions that may be considered in the context of research or analysis, regardless of their importance or direction.

The aim of the PhD Thesis is to comprehensively analyze and understand the determinants that contribute to or hinder the development of agritourism in the Almaty region, as well as to develop recommendations for its successful development.

Following the preliminary defense, the dissertation by doctoral student Shaken Aiman Shakenkyzy on the topic “DETERMINANTS OF AGRITOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN ALMATY REGION” was unanimously recommended for defense at the Dissertation Council of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in the specialty “6D090200 – Tourism”.