Students at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University initiated a meeting with Yerzhan Yerkinbayev, executive director of Kazakh Tourism Development Ltd., to discuss the Almaty SuperSki project and plans for developing the Kok-Zhailau area, infohub.kz reports.
Participants were primarily interested in what infrastructure would be built at Kok-Zhailau, how the project would affect the natural area and Almaty residents' access to the mountains, and how tourist flows would be regulated.
According to Yerkinbayev, the project has drawn a range of opinions, so the company is ready to discuss it directly with students and answer their questions.
"The students themselves invited us to this meeting. For me, it's an important sign that young people care about what happens around Kok-Zhailau. There are many different opinions about Almaty SuperSki, and the best way to sort things out is to talk directly," he said.
The discussion also involved Nursultan Shokanov, president of the Mountaineering and Climbing Federation; Nursulu Akhtayeva, head of the Department of Botany and Agroecology at KazNU and a candidate of biological sciences; public representatives; and students.
Shokanov noted that convenience for city residents should remain a key principle in developing the mountain area.
Participants also discussed the project's environmental component. According to Akhtayeva, scientists are continuing to study the area. She said preliminary results indicate that Almaty SuperSki does not harm the Kok-Zhailau ecosystem.
Employment was another topic. Students asked what specialists would be needed after the project launches and whether graduates of Almaty universities could work in mountain tourism, ecology, engineering, and services.
Yerkinbayev said the project would need specialists in various fields, including young graduates.
"For us, it's important that the development of Almaty SuperSki creates opportunities not only for tourists but also for Almaty residents themselves. Including for young professionals who are currently studying at universities," he said.
The students explained their initiative as a desire to get information about Kok-Zhailau directly from project representatives rather than from social media discussions.
"For us, Kok-Zhailau is not an abstract area on a map. We go there, we know this place, and that's why we want to understand what it will become after Almaty SuperSki is implemented. At the same time, it's interesting to understand what opportunities the project could give us as young professionals in the future," one participant said.
During the discussion, young people also raised the question of how the mountains of Almaty should develop in the coming years. Kok-Zhailau remains a popular place for walks and recreation, so plans to change the area are of interest to city residents.
The students who organized the meeting also initiated the JANA LEP public movement. Its participants say they want to unite young people and active residents around discussions about the future of Almaty.