91��ý

A round table "Tourism of Kazakhstan: sustainable development through responsibility and innovation" was held at al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The organizer was the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The event was dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the birth of Professor Stanislav Ramazanovich Yerdavletov, founder of the University's Tourism Department, Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Honorary Worker of Tourism of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Aliya Aktymbaeva, Dean of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Management, delivered a welcoming speech at the event. She noted that the famous Soviet and Kazakh geographer S.R.Yerdavletov became the first Doctor of sciences in Kazakhstan and Central Asia to defend a dissertation on tourism, and laid the foundations of a new scientific direction – the academic school of geography of tourism in Kazakhstan. Under his leadership, scientific projects on the development and territorial organization of tourism in the country were implemented. S.Yerdavletov is the author of more than 400 scientific papers, including the first textbooks in Kazakhstan on the geography of tourism. He became one of the founders of the modern scientific school of tourism and made a significant contribution to the training of personnel for the field of tourism and hospitality.

The plenary session featured presentations by leading scientists and industry experts. Academician Akhmetkal Medeu, Chairman of the Management Board of the Institute of Geography and Water Safety JSC, spoke about the problems of geographical science and water safety issues in the context of tourism development. Ordenbek Mazbayev, Professor of the L.N.Gumilyov ENU, spoke about the development of tourism in the regions of Kazakhstan and the continuity of scientific schools.

Presentations were also made by Professor Amangeldy Temirbekov, Associate Professor Katima Iskakova and Assistant Professor of the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism Umit Koshkimbayeva.

A separate block of presentations was devoted to digital technologies and regional experience in tourism development. Alexander Podvalov, CEO of the AG Tech IT company, member of the Presidium of the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, PhD, presented a report on the digitalization of the tourism industry. Associate Professor of Zhezkazgan College of Business and Transport, PhD Kania Tursinbayeva spoke about personnel training. Associate Professor of Aktobe Regional University named after K.Zhubanov, PhD Gulnar Kubesova shared her regional experience in tourism development. Maria Titova, Head of the Department of Analysis and Monitoring of Tourism Development of the Akmola Region Tourism Department, presented analytical data on the industry.

PhD, Associate Professor of Abai KazNPU Yerlan Isakov and Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Geotourism and Geomorphology at the Institute of Geography and Water Safety, PhD Roza Temirbayeva also spoke.

During the thematic sections, the participants discussed fundamental and applied problems in the field of tourism and hospitality. Issues related to the development of tourism in the context of global challenges, the introduction of innovations in education and the expansion of international cooperation were discussed. The proposals presented were of an applied nature and were supported by the participants. The event was moderated by the head of the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism, PhD Ruslan Bayburiev.

Following the results of the round table, recommendations were developed for the further development of tourism education and scientific research in Kazakhstan.

Press-service of 91��ý Kazakh National University