Kazakhstan is targeting Thai travelers. In 2026, the number of visitors from Thailand could reach 20,000–25,000, compared with approximately 10,000–15,000 in 2025, DKNews.kz reports.
The new projections were presented at a specialized seminar in Bangkok co-organized by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Thailand and the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA).
Up to 25,000 Thai tourists expected in 2026
The key figure discussed at the event concerned the growth of inbound tourism. Around 10,000–15,000 tourists from Thailand visited Kazakhstan in 2025. In 2026, the number is expected to rise to 20,000–25,000.
If the upper-end forecast is reached, the tourist flow could come close to doubling compared with the lower estimate for the previous year.
Kazakhstan is being promoted directly through Thailand’s tourism industry. Around 55 industry representatives attended the seminar in person, while representatives of approximately 100 travel companies joined via video conference.
Participants were introduced to Kazakhstan’s key tourism destinations, natural and cultural attractions, as well as routes considered promising for Thai travelers.
Mountains, lakes and snow attract Thai travelers
For the Thai market, Kazakhstan’s appeal is closely linked to features that are difficult to experience at home: mountain landscapes, lakes and a genuine snowy winter.
These attractions, along with Kazakhstan’s rich cultural heritage, were highlighted by Jintana Vetchapinan, Vice President of the Thai Travel Agents Association.
According to her, TTAA can contribute to further growth in tourist arrivals by developing direct B2B contacts between tourism companies in the two countries. One platform for such promotion could be the annual Thailand International Travel Fair (TITF), held in January.
Another tool is the organization of familiarization trips for association members. For travel companies, such visits provide an opportunity to experience the destination firsthand, develop tourism products and subsequently promote Kazakhstan tours in the Thai market.
23 weekly flights strengthen connectivity
Air connectivity is already supporting the promotion effort. Kazakhstan and Thailand currently have 23 scheduled flights per week.
For inbound tourism, this is a significant factor. Even an attractive new destination is harder to sell without convenient transport links.
Cooperation between the tourism sectors of the two countries is also developing at the institutional level. On May 25, 2026, during the Kazakhstan–Thailand Business Forum in Bangkok, the Akimat of Almaty Region and TTAA signed a memorandum of cooperation in tourism.
The document is aimed at promoting the tourism potential of Almaty Region in the Thai market, developing direct contacts between tour operators from the two countries and supporting growth in tourist flows from Thailand to Kazakhstan.
TTAA brings together more than 1,000 companies
The scale of the potential promotion channel is also significant. The Thai Travel Agents Association brings together more than 1,000 tourism companies and supports outbound tourism, international cooperation and the promotion of new overseas destinations in Thailand.
TTAA board member Panitta Wongsuk said Kazakhstan has been actively promoted among Thai tourism businesses over the past two years.
She stressed the importance of B2B engagement with tour operators and said the Bangkok seminar was intended to increase Kazakhstan’s visibility as a tourism destination and strengthen industry ties.
For Kazakhstan, Thailand remains a market where interest in the country is only beginning to translate into concrete tourism products. The key measure now will be whether the interest shown by Thai travel agencies can turn into the projected 20,000–25,000 visits in 2026.
Earlier, we wrote about how Kazakh businesses began expanding into Southeast Asia and what agreements worth $101 million were signed in Bangkok.
