Participation of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Students in the International Conference on Women’s Empowerment in Tourism

On October 22–23, 2025, the city of Almaty hosted the International Conference on Women’s Empowerment in Tourism, organized with the support of the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Almaty City Tourism Department.

The conference brought together representatives of government bodies, international organizations, research institutes, and the business community to discuss strategies for promoting gender equality and enhancing women’s participation in the tourism industry.

The opening ceremony featured welcome remarks from:

• Nurtas Karipbayev, Chair of the Tourism Industry Committee, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

• Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director, UN Tourism;

• Galiya Tokseitova, Head of the Almaty City Tourism Department;

• Diyar Askarov, Director of the Almaty Tourism Bureau.

During the panel discussions, participants explored issues of gender balance, women’s leadership in decision-making positions, and the role of digitalization in promoting sustainable and inclusive tourism development.

From the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Management at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, the delegation included the Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Aliya Sagyndykovna Aktymbaeva, as well as faculty members and students.

Dr. Gulbaram Kulakhmetova, Acting Associate Professor of the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism and Senior Researcher at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, served as the moderator of the first panel session titled “Challenging Stereotypes: Strategies to Facilitate Women’s Access to Traditionally Gendered Roles in Tourism.”

Distinguished speakers of the session included:

• Ance Švajnzger, General Manager for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, Intrepid Travel;

• Aisha Mambetalieva, President, Association of Tour Operators of Kyrgyzstan;

• Rashida Shaikenova, Independent Director, Board of Directors of Kazakh Tourism JSC, and President, Kazakhstan Tourism Association (KTA);

• Azhar Nesipbayeva, Senior First Officer, Airbus, Air Astana;

• Dana Karagusova, entrepreneur, the first Kazakh woman to travel to space, and Founder of First Media Group.

In her speech, Dr. Gulbaram Kulakhmetova presented the results of KazNU’s scientific research focused on sustainable tourism development and gender equality promotion in the industry, emphasizing the crucial role of university science and digital technologies in addressing modern challenges.

Other sessions of the conference included discussions on digital inequality, women’s entrepreneurship initiatives, and the presentation of the “Almaty Call for Action” project — a symbolic initiative supporting women leaders in tourism.

The participation of KazNU faculty and students in this prestigious international forum contributes to the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 — Gender Equality, strengthens the university’s contribution to the United Nations’ priorities, and enhances its standing in international sustainable development rankings.

Such events foster international cooperation, promote the principles of gender equality, sustainability, and innovation, and reflect KazNU’s active role in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals and nurturing a new generation of leaders in the tourism sector.