ALMATY (KazInform) – “There are plans to build 10 ski resorts in Almaty to boost mountain skiing tourism”, said Kalibek Akylbekov, deputy director of the Almaty City Tourism Department.

“The development of mountain ski tourism will encompass three poles of activity in Almaty and the Almaty region until 2025. Last year, an Austrian company developed the Almaty and Almaty region alpine tourism cluster. The eastern cluster will include the Turgen Mountains, the central one includes Almaty and the western group includes the city of Kaskelen. There will be ten ski resorts in the territory of three poles. The snow ski slopes will extend over 456 km, 8 times more than the current ski slope”, Akylbekov said at the KITF 2019 press conference.

More than 600,000 people visited Medeo and Shymbulak during the season. In addition, Almaty plans to develop mountain skiing tourism in the Butakovka Gorge and upgrade local ski resorts and the Sunkar international ski jumping complex.

The construction feasibility plan and design estimates are being developed. Investments will be attracted by private sector or by the State budget. The construction of the ski resorts will start within three years if all the documents are agreed.