Agritourism in the Republic of Kazakhstan and Turkey: potential reserves

The purpose - a comprehensive study of rural tourism in Kazakhstan and Turkey was carried out, with an emphasis on identifying points and differences of institutional convergence, identifying mechanisms for improving efficiency.

Methods - comparative and correlation analysis of official statistical data of recent years to study the dynamics of the development of the tourism sector of the two countries. National strategies, programs and regulatory acts of these states are analyzed to compare the means of state support, systems of regulation and implementation of innovations. The quality component was provided through interviews with industry experts (10 from each country), which made it possible to obtain expert assessments on digitalization, integration of ethno-cultural and environmental values, as well as identify the main drivers and barriers to expanding the scale of the tourism industry.

Results - features of the current state, growth rates and structure of tourism in rural areas of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Turkey are shown. It was found that Turkey is distinguished by a developed system of state support, a high level of digitalization of services and widespread diversification of tourist products, including state-supported niche destinations (apitourism, gastrotourism). In Kazakhstan, there is a fragmentation of policies and limited introduction of digital platforms, but there are positive changes in the distribution of ethno-cultural and environmental forms of Tourism. The patterns of integration of local traditions into tourism activities are presented and the main factors of sustainability of the tourism industry are indicated.

Conclusions - it is proved that the process of implementing the strategic goals and objectives of agritourism is possible through effective state support, active digital transformation, integration of local preferences and innovative proposals. Recommendations were developed to improve national strategies, taking into account modern international trends and best practices, promising innovations in rural entrepreneurship.

1. [1] Omirzakova, M., Wendt, J.A. (2025). Transport as a factor in the development of rural tourism in the Aktobe region, Republic of Kazakhstan. Geojournal of Tourism and Geosites, 59(2), 952–964. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.59239-1471 [in English].

2. [2] Abdikarimova, M., Imangulova, T., Savanchieva, A., Atasheva, D., Aldybaev, B. (2025). The role of ethnic tourism in preserving the cultural heritage and local traditions of Kazakhstan. Geojournal of Tourism and Geosites, 59(2), 529– 538. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.59202-1434 [in English].

3. [3] Demirezen, B. (2020). Agro Tourism in Turkey. International Journal of Health Management and Tourism. Available at: https://www.dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/ijhmt/issue/52513/696185 (date of access: 11.06.2025). https://doi.org/10.31201/ijhmt.696185 [in English].

4. [4] Geng, Y., Zhang, X., Gao, H., Yan, Y., Chen, L. (2024). Bibliometric analysis of sustainable tourism using CiteSpace. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 202, 123310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123310 [in English].

5. [5] Koishinova, G.K., Sarina, B., Domalatov, E.B. (2025). Agritourism in Kazakhstan (regional aspect): potential and prospects. Problems of AgriMarket, 1, 49–60. https://doi.org/10.46666/2025-1.2708-9991.04 [in English].

6. [6] Gutierriz, I., Ferreira, J.J., Fernandes, P.O. (2023). Digital transformation and the new combinations in tourism: A systematic literature review. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 25(2), 194–213. https://doi.org/10.1177/14673584231198414 [in English].

7. [7] Sarina, B., Akimbekova, G., Erkinbaeva, N. (2024). Agrotourism in Kazakhstan as a factor in the economic revitalization of the rural population. Problems of AgriMarket, 3, 67–78. https://doi.org/10.46666/2024-3.2708-9991.06 [in English].

8. [8] Yildiz, S., Aydin, S. (2021). Online customer reviews: An analysis of Çorum restaurants on Tripadvisor. Turkish Tourism Research Journal, 5(1), 610–622. https://doi.org/10.26677/TR1010.2021.683 [in English].

9. [9] Rosalina, P.D., Dupre, K., Wang, Y. (2021). Rural tourism: A systematic review of the literature on definitions and issues. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 47, 134– 149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2021.03.001 [in English].

10. [10] Li, Y., Ismail, M.A., Aminuddin, A. (2024). How has rural tourism influenced the sustainable development of traditional villages? A systematic literature review. Heliyon, 10(4), e25627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25627 [in English].

11. [11] Concept for the Development of the Tourism Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023–2029 (2023). Available at: https:// www.adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/P2300000262 (date of access: 24.06.2025) [in Russian].

12. [12] Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency. Safe and Sustainable Tourism Program (2024). Available at: https://www.tga.gov.tr/en/safe-and-sustainable-tourism/sustainable-tourism-program (date of access: 24.06. 2025) [in English].

13. [13] Creswell, J.W., Creswell, J.D. (2022). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 320 [in English].

14. [14] Official Tourism Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2024). Available at: https:// www.stat.gov.kz/ (date of access: 24.06.2025) [in Russian].

15. [15] Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat). Official tourism statistics for Turkey (2024). Available at: https://www.data.tuik.gov.tr/ (date of access: 24.06.2025) [in English].