THE II INTERNATIONAL FORUM «SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL ASIA: CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AND PROSPECTS»

The II International Forum “Sustainable Tourism Development in Central Asia: Challenges, Opportunities and Prospects”, dedicated to the university's 90th anniversary, brought together leading experts, scientists, and representatives of international organisations started at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

The forum participants were greeted by Duisenov Erkin Ermanovich – Deputy Chairman of the Board – First Vice-Rector of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Doctor of Law, Professor; Suhrob Hojimatov - Deputy Permanent Representative of UNDP in Kazakhstan; Sofia Gutierrez - Deputy Director of the Sustainable Development Department of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO); Chon Kaye - Dean and Chair Professor and Walter & Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Medeu Akhmetkal Rakhmetullaevich - Doctor of Geographic Sciences, Chairman of the Board of the Institute of Geography and Water Security; Serzhanuly Daniel - Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSC National Company “Kazakh Tourism” (Almaty, Kazakhstan); Zhong Lina - Executive Dean of the Chinese Institute of Big Data Research in Culture and Tourism, Beijing International Studies University, Vice-President of ITSA; Kozhakhmetov Alimger Erkinovich - Deputy Head of the State Enterprise “Tourist Information Centre” of the Department of Tourism of Almaty region (Almaty, Kazakhstan); Aktymbaeva Aliya Sagyndykova - Dean of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. In the framework of the forum were signed memorandums of cooperation between Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and the UN Development Programme in Kazakhstan, Palembang Polytechnic Institute of Tourism and Mamun University.

One of the key events of the forum was the opening ceremony of the Centre for Sustainable Development in Central Asia based on Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Professor Hok Bun Ku - Director of the China and Global Development Network, presented the concept of the Centre, its objectives, and priority areas of research: social work, social development, and social policy; sustainable tourism, community tourism, digital transformation of tourism, AI in tourism, Sustainable Development, and Environmental Protection, etc.

The plenary sessions covered the most relevant issues for the region. Key topics included: the role of women in the sustainable development of the hospitality industry (moderated by Professor Chon Kaye); the impact of technology and innovation on the transformation of the tourism industry (moderated by Professor Song Haiyan); and international cooperation and the application of ecotourism practices (moderated by Suhrob Khojimatov).

The Forum was divided into six thematic areas: sustainable development of tourist destinations, tourism management, social and cultural aspects, technologies and innovations, economic aspects, and the application of geo-information systems and remote sensing. The work of the Forum will continue for three days. The first day of the Forum ended with a discussion on the prospects for further cooperation and the planning of joint projects. The moderators summarised the work of the sections and outlined the directions for further research and practical implementation of initiatives.