A working group led by Deputy Prime Minister Yermek Kosherbayev inspected tourist zones in the Almaty and Karaganda regions, as well as in the Zhetysu and Abay regions. Its members included the heads of the ministries of tourism and sport, transport, internal affairs, ecology and natural resources, water resources and irrigation, healthcare, and other authorised state bodies.
According to the government press service, systemic violations were identified during the inspection trip. At the Kapchagay Reservoir, Lake Alakol and Lake Balkhash, complaints from citizens about the deplorable state of tourist infrastructure, the insufficient level of service, and the lack of necessary safety measures were confirmed.
Of particular concern to the inspectors was the condition of the public beaches managed by local executive bodies.
"Facts of violations of landscaping standards, a lack of cash discipline among business entities providing services without issuing receipts, as well as disregard for sanitary requirements and safety norms have been recorded," the statement said.
Following the inspection, disciplinary sanctions were imposed on responsible officials:
- a severe reprimand was issued to the Vice Minister of Tourism and Sport, Yerzhan Yerkinbayev, and the deputy akims of the Almaty and Karaganda regions, as well as the Zhetysu and Abay regions, responsible for tourism development;
- a reprimand was issued to the akims of the cities of Konayev and Balkhash, the Alakol district and the Makanshy district, as well as to the akims of rural districts;
- penalties were applied to the heads of regional departments responsible for entrepreneurship, tourism, environmental protection, architecture and trade;
- the heads of territorial divisions of the ministries of ecology and natural resources, healthcare, finance, water resources and irrigation, trade and integration, and transport were held accountable.
It is noted that on-site inspections in the tourist zones continue with the participation of representatives from central state bodies.
"Following the inspections, a Roadmap for the Development of Tourist Infrastructure will be drawn up, which will identify priority measures to eliminate systemic problems in the industry," the government reported.
It will be recalled that earlier, a young woman drowned on one of the beaches of the Kapchagay Reservoir. Everything happened before the eyes of Mazhilis deputy Bakytzhan Bazarbek, who was on holiday there. According to him, the woman was pulled from the water by boat renters, and first aid was attempted by eyewitnesses — the management of the recreation area was not present at the scene of the incident.