The 8th Kazakhstan International Tourism & Travel Fair
24-26 April 2008
Atakent Exhibition Centre, Almaty, Kazakhstan
www.kitf.kz

KITF 2008: A Club for Travellers from 34 Countries of the World

On April 24-26, Almaty saw the 8th International Tourism & Travel Fair  KITF 2008.  The event was organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Almaty City Akimat jointly with Iteca of Kazakhstan and ITE Group of Exhibition Companies.

The fair brought together 500 exhibitors from 34 countries of the world: Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Russia, Seychelles, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand,  Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, UK, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

Over the past eight years, KITF Tourist Fair has become the major forum in Kazakhstan and Central Asia in the sphere of travel and tourism, its significance and importance being confirmed by the many-years-long support by the exhibitors and the unprecedented number of visitors.  During KITF 2008 three days, 5,564 visitors were registered, 80% of these being CEOs and experts in the tourist and related spheres.

“From year to year, the fair has been growing in popularity among the tourism professionals from Kazakhstan, Central Asian and European countries.  I believe this is a significant step along the road of mutually beneficial co-operation and partnership, the 8th Kazakhstan International Tourism and Travel Fair KITF 2008 will add considerable support to the sustainable development of travel industry in Kazakhstan,” said Yevgeniy Nikitinsky, Chairman of the Tourism Industry Committee under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, at the Exhibition Opening Ceremony.

The incessant work to promote one of the business tourism and leisure areas in Kazakhstan makes it possible for the Kazakhstan tourist market to lure an ever increasing number of major international companies.  The Kazakhstan inbound and outbound tourism market was extensively represented.  To demonstrate the complete range of offers in the industry, the exhibition was divided by pavilions.  Pavilion 10 of the Atakent Exhibition Centre featured national stands, ministries of tourism of 17 countries, and, of course, Kazakhstan's tourist opportunities.  KITF 2008 was traditionally attended by the business and industry departments from all regions of Kazakhstan.  The exhibition space in Pavilion 11 was shared by private companies: travel agencies, hotels, and resorts of various countries and regions.

“Events like this contribute to the implementation of the National Tourism Development Programme of Kazakhstan for 2007-2011 and unveil the immense potential of our country in the field of most popular tourist activities including educational, cultural and heritage, business, adventure, health and especially ecological tourism,” noted Mr. Nikitinskiy.

The authority of the event was consolidated by the official support from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, UNWTO, Almaty City Akimat, as well as diplomatic missions accredited in Kazakhstan and leading specialised and socio-political mass media of Kazakhstan, CIS and far-abroad nations.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Almaty City Akimat jointly with Iteca of Kazakhstan and ITE Group of Exhibition Companies.

Summed up in figures and facts, the brief results of KITF 2008 look as follows:

• 72% of exhibitors made sales contracts during the exhibition;
• 29% of exhibitors stated in their questionnaires that their stand was visited by 200 to 500 professionals a day, 28%  100 to 200 professionals, 18%  50 to 100 professionals, 16%  over 500 professionals, 8%  10 to 50 professionals, and 1%  fewer that 10 professionals a day;
• 5,564 visitors were registered during the three days of the exhibition; and
• 96% of visitors said in their questionnaires that they attend the exhibition every year and plan to visit KITF next year.

The next KITF Exhibition will take place on 23-25 April 2009.
For more information about KITF 2008, welcome to www.kitf.kz