German tourist arrivals are growing. In 2025, the number of visitors from Germany to Kazakhstan increased by 14%, and Astana is now set to host the European DRV Destination Forum 2026 for the first time, bringing together more than 70 key tourism industry representatives and international experts, DKNews.kz reports.
The forum is a joint project of Deutscher Reiseverband (DRV), Germany’s largest travel association, and leading media group fvw, with the support of JSC NC Kazakh Tourism.
36,700 Tourists Arrived from Germany — Up 14%
Germany is one of Kazakhstan’s most important tourism markets in Europe.
In 2025, 36,700 tourists from Germany visited Kazakhstan. A year earlier, the figure stood at 32,200, meaning the tourist flow increased by 14%.
Against this backdrop, the visit of German tourism industry representatives has practical significance. Kazakhstan now has an opportunity to present not only its general tourism potential, but also specific destinations, routes and opportunities for cooperation.
DRV Brings Together More Than 3,000 Companies
The profile of the forum’s main partner adds weight to the event.
Deutscher Reiseverband brings together more than 3,000 companies. According to the organizers, its members account for 90% of organized tourist trips in Germany.
For Kazakhstan’s tourism industry, this provides access to a professional audience directly involved in developing, promoting and selling tourism products in one of Europe’s key markets.
German Guests Will Visit Four Regions of Kazakhstan
The introduction to Kazakhstan began even before the forum’s main program.
From August 20 to 24, participants from Germany are visiting four destinations in Kazakhstan as part of familiarization tours. The program includes Almaty and the Almaty Region, the Mangystau Region, the East Kazakhstan Region, as well as Shymkent and the Turkistan Region.
This format allows foreign tourism professionals to experience Kazakhstan’s tourism products firsthand — from the cities and historical destinations of the south to Mangystau and East Kazakhstan.
Following these trips, the discussion about promoting Kazakhstan abroad can move into a more practical phase: which destinations are attractive to tour operators, which routes could be included in travel programs and which companies are ready to establish direct partnerships.
Kazakh Businesses to Hold B2B Talks in Astana
At the forum, representatives of Kazakhstan’s tourism industry will hold B2B negotiations and present the country’s tourism potential to international experts.
For businesses, this is one of the most practical parts of DRV Destination Forum 2026. Instead of promoting Kazakhstan solely through a national exhibition stand, local companies will have an opportunity to discuss cooperation directly with representatives of the international tourism industry.
No specific agreements or new tourism programs have been announced yet. The real impact of the forum will therefore depend on whether B2B contacts develop into concrete agreements between companies.
Forum Initiative Received Support at ITB Berlin 2026
The initiative to hold DRV Destination Forum in Kazakhstan had already received international backing.
It was supported at ITB Berlin 2026, one of the world’s largest international travel exhibitions. Kazakhstan has participated in the event regularly since 2013, showcasing its tourism potential through a national stand that brings together domestic tour operators, the hotel industry, national gastronomy representatives and local executive bodies.
Earlier, we wrote about Astana presenting medical tourism at ITB Berlin 2026 for the first time.
Now, engagement with the German market is moving directly to Kazakhstan. After the forum, the key measure of success will not be the number of participants, but whether the regional tours and negotiations in Astana can translate into new tourism products for the German market.
