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Efforts to enhance the tourism appeal of the Aktobe region have fallen short, leaving many of the area's popular natural and historical sites inaccessible to both locals and visitors. The lack of active domestic tourism companies and underdeveloped infrastructure are key factors contributing to this situation.

Limited Domestic Tourism Activity

Despite the region's recognized tourism potential, the reality on the ground is starkly different. For the past three years, not a single company has been actively engaged in domestic tourism within the region. The "Visit Aktobe" center's limited reach, having organized excursions for only 200 people last year, highlights the scale of the problem.

New Plans for Tourism Development

The Sports Department acknowledges the challenges, describing the region as being in the "formation stage of a tourism cluster." While this process has been ongoing for 35 years since Kazakhstan's independence, the reasons for the delay in cluster development remain unclear.

To address the issue, the department is working with local tour operators to subsidize a portion of the costs for purchasing vehicles capable of carrying more than eight passengers. This initiative aims to encourage investment in tour buses for organizing excursions.

Furthermore, the "Visit Aktobe" center is actively seeking specialists to develop unique, author-led tours, hoping they will obtain licenses and operate officially.

Early Steps and Challenges

A memorandum has been signed with Nur Travel, a tourism agency led by Bakyt Tleshova. However, Tleshova, who has primarily organized tours to Istanbul for residents of Astana and Almaty, is new to domestic tourism.

"I haven't started working with domestic tourism yet; this will be my first experience," Tleshova stated. "First, I will explore the route to the Kaskyrly waterfall near Aktobe, and only then will I start gathering people. We plan to open the season on May 2nd."

Tleshova was also proposed to organize excursions to the Aktolagay chalk plateau near Aktobe. However, she has not yet visited this site and emphasized the need for personal reconnaissance before offering it to tourists.

Transportation and Infrastructure Hurdles

Tleshova was unaware of the available subsidies for purchasing buses, planning to book transportation for the Kaskyrly waterfall trip at her own expense. While escorts with Ministry of Internal Affairs vehicles are mentioned for children's excursions, the general transportation issue remains a concern.

The road leading to the Kaskyrly waterfall is still under construction, with 1.2 billion tenge allocated for its development. The poor condition of roads leading to many tourist sites across the region continues to be a significant barrier to development.

Existing Facilities and Potential Sites

According to the Sports and Tourism Department, 10 tourist campsites have been established in the region. These sites are equipped with amenities such as gazebos, fire pits, swings, restrooms, and trash bins.

The Akimat (regional administration) claims there are at least 30 tourist attractions in the region, encompassing both natural landscapes and historical monuments.