The Central Communications Service under the President of Kazakhstan hosted a briefing with the Minister of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aktoty Raimkulova on the work done by the ministry in the framework of the execution of the instructions of the Head of State.

The head of the Ministry of Culture and Sports began her speech with the work done by the ministry during the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan. So, according to her, all projects were filled with ideologically meaningful and high-quality events aimed at patriotic education of citizens, spiritual development, promotion of the best examples of art, further promotion of mass sports and domestic tourism.

“Since the beginning of the year, about 46 thousand socially significant, large-scale, new projects have been carried out. In accordance with the nationwide action plan, the projects are linked to the country's achievements over 30 years, each month was held under its own thematic name. A number of events were timed to coincide with the significant holidays for the country,” Raimkulova said.

February went under the name "Kazakhstan — a Sports Nation". Within the framework of this action, more than 150 sports events were organized. In addition, sporting events continued not only in February, but throughout the year. More than 500 sporting events have been held since the beginning of the year. All events are aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle, developing mass sports, incl. national sports, popularization of the achievements of domestic athletes over the years of independence.

In order to popularize the national culture, March was designated as "Kazakh National Culture and Traditions". Within the framework of which more than 1,000 events of various formats were held. All events are aimed at preserving our national traditions and cultural identity, as well as raising the cultural level and spirit of society. Charitable events, creative concerts, projects of various formats were organized during the days of Alys aytu, Kurisu kunderi, the best traditions of the celebration of Nauryz were revived. Special attention in the theaters of the country was paid to national performances.

On the first Sunday of July in honor of the "National Day of Dombra" on the QAZAQSTAN TV channel, a festive concert "Nagyz Kazak - Kazak Emes, Nagyz Kazak - Dombra" was organized. The peers of Independence — 30 dombra players from 17 regions of the republic — performed kui. This event had a great impact on increasing the prestige of the sacred instrument, especially among young people.

On the eve of the Capital Day, with the participation of cultural and art workers, a round table on the topic “SALEM, ELORDA!” and a festival were held. In order to develop sacred tourism and increase tourist interest in historical and cultural sites in the Ulytau district of the Karaganda region, a historical and cultural complex Zhoshy Khan was opened, and a local history excursion Abai Zholy was organized in the East Kazakhstan region.

The final stage of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan's Independence began on Nov. 15 within the framework of the "30 Starry Days" project. During this period, a number of large-scale anniversary and solemn events were organized. The opening of the II International Festival of Professional Choreographic Educational Institutions took place with the premiere of the play "A Romance of the Rose and Butterflies" by the famous choreographer Marius Petipa.

The Turkistan Music and Drama Theater presented the performance "Borte" to the capital audience on the stage of the State Academic Kazakh Music and Drama Theater named after Kuanyshbayev. Premieres of the opera Alpamys by Erkegali Rakhmadiev, the ballet Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra took place at the Astana Opera and Astana Ballet theaters.

Premieres of films "Boxer", "Horse thieves. Roads of Time" and "Mukagali" filmed by the film studio Kazakhfilm took place this year. In addition, the Astana concert hall hosted a creative evening of Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Tolegen Mukhamedzhanov and People's Artist of Kazakhstan Nurzhamal Usenbaeva "Zhasai ber, Kazakh Eli". A concert of the famous opera singer Maria Mudryak “For you, my Kazakhstan!” Took place at the Astana Opera State Theater.

On Dec. 1, the Nazarbayev Center hosted a gala concert "Tarihi Tulga Tagylymy" dedicated to the Day of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Together with the Qazaq Kuresi Association, a republican tournament in Kazakh kuresi "Uzdikterdin Uzdigi" was held. In the first decade of December, the Chess Championship of the Republic of Kazakhstan among adults and the Open Championship of Asia and Oceania in Parajudo were held, in which athletes from Indonesia, Korea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Romania, Russia and Japan took part.

In order to strengthen Kazakhstani patriotism and love for national culture, to promote the rich heritage of Abay, Al-Farabi and Zhambyl, on Dec. 6, the final of the XI Republican online competition for new works of art "Tauelsizdik Tolgauy" and the Elim Menin XVII Republican Online Competition of Patriotic Songs took place.

“From Dec. 7 to 9, in order to promote classical musical art and support young talents, an International Children's Television Competition for Performers on Musical Instruments was held. To promote the art of aitys for the younger generation, further develop and improve the quality level of the art of aitys, together with the Nur Otan party in the city of Nur-Sultan, the X republican aitys of akyns ‘Altyn Dombyra’ was held,’’ added Raimkulova.

On Dec. 15, a gala concert dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held at the State Opera and Astana Opera Ballet Theater. From Dec. 16 to 18 at the State Academic Kazakh Music and Drama Theater named after Kuanyshbayev, the premiere of the historical drama of Khalifa Altai "Altaydan Augan Eli" was held. On Dec. 18, at a big evening of international boxing with the participation of the best boxers in the world, domestic boxer Daniyar Yeleusinov became the IBO world champion, beating Argentine Juan Hernan Leal, who is one of the 15 best boxers.

Also, the grand opening of the 150th anniversary of the legendary Kazakh wrestler Kazhymukan Munaitpasuly took place. A comprehensive plan for the anniversary of the great fighter was adopted, within the framework of which about 300 information and educational events, 20 book and illustrative exhibitions, about 70 sports competitions of various levels, about 10 round tables and seminars, the international online conference "Zhagandyk Kosh Atasy - Kazhymkan" weere held. In Kazhymukan village of Akmola region, the construction of a sports complex, in Nur-Sultan the sports complex “Zhas batyr” was renamed into “Kazhymukan” and a monument to the Kazakh paluan was opened, a feature film “Kazhymukan” was shot, as well as many other cultural, sports, information and image events were held.

This year, in honor of the 90th anniversary of the Kazakh lyric poet Mukagali Makatayev, various events are held in all regions of the country, a tribute is paid to the memory of the poet's work. At the State Academic Kazakh Music and Drama Theater named after Kuanyshbayev, the poetic drama «Mukagali"; at the Kazakh State Academic Theater for Children and Youth named after Musrepov, the lyric drama "Men Umytylmaimyn"; at the Kazakh State Academic Drama Theater named after Auezov presented the poetic composition "Mukagalimen Syrlasu"; in the folk theater "Khan Tengri" — the play "Akkular Uyyktaganda" were presented.

In the regions of the republic, evenings of meetings "Mukandardyn Zhalgasy", a concert "Yesine Meni Algaysyn", an art project "Zhyr Kanatynda", an hour of poetry "Omiri Olenmen Urilgen", an online marathon among schoolchildren "Zhyrlaidy Zhurek" and others were held.

At the "Men Qazaqsha Suileimin" Republican Concert, poems and video clips of the hero of the day performed by students of ethnic nationalities were prepared, as well as book and virtual exhibitions "Mukagali - Mangilik Gumyr" were organized.

By the end of this year, with the support of the ministry, it is planned to publish a 10-volume collection of the poet's works, prepared jointly by the International Public Foundation named after Mukagali Makatayev and Kazygurt publishing house. Also the Kazakhfilm studio held in October in Nur-Sultan and Almaty presentation of the full-length feature film "Mukagali" directed by Bolat Kalymbetov, dedicated to the poet's work and life, which is currently being released in all cinemas of the country.

“In addition, a television series dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Mukagali Makatayev is being filmed on the national TV channel Qazaqstan this year. The series will be ready by the end of the year. In addition, on Oct. 1, 2021, in the village of Narynkol, where the poet was born, a monument was erected in honor of the hero of the day and a park was named in honor of the poet,” she said.

At the level of the State Commission, the Republican plan for the preparation and holding of the 175th anniversary of Zhambyl Zhabayev was approved, in accordance with which numerous cultural events of the republican and regional levels were held. In accordance with the all-republican plan, the ministry held more than 90 republican and regional events. A brand book with a single jubilee symbol was developed, the Kazpost joint-stock company developed sketches of an anniversary postage stamp, the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan issued collectible coins, together with the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development, a distribution of musical works on Zhabayev's poems was organized on railway routes. An international festival of akyns was held in Nur-Sultan with the participation of aytiskers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, and the premiere of the opera "Zhambyl Zhyrau" by composer Alkuat Kazakhbayev took place at the Abay Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theater. In Turkey, Zhambyl's poems were translated into Turkish and presented by the international organization TURKSOY.

As part of summing up the results of the 175th anniversary, a meeting with a group of creative youth with the participation of the State Secretary of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held in the literary-memorial museum of Zhambyl Zhabayev of the Zhambyl district of the Almaty region. Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yeraly Tugzhanov, State Secretary of the neighboring Kyrgyz Republic Suiunbek Kasmambetov and a delegation from Kyrgyzstan met with young poets and writers. As a result of the meeting, a 30-volume collection by Zhambyl Zhabayev was presented. In general, the anniversary of the great poet, who became the Homer of the Great Steppe, has become a great cultural holiday for our people, a significant spiritual event.

“Within the framework of the 30th anniversary of Independence, in accordance with the Decree of the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Nov. 24, 2020, a State Commission for the complete rehabilitation of victims of political repression was created. In order to support the work of the State Commission, the relevant work is carried out within the competence of the ministry. Currently, the Central State Archives are working on declassifying documents related to political repression, with the participation of the legal owners of documents from institutions and organizations stored in the archive,” said the Minister of Culture and Sports.

In cooperation with local executive bodies, information was collected on closed funds in state archives under their jurisdiction. As a result of these works, historical justice will be fully restored in relation to all categories of victims of political repression of the Soviet period.

Aktoty Raimkulova also reported on the progress in fulfilling the instructions of the Head of State in the main areas of the ministry's activities. Thus, the focus of constant attention is on the development of the sports and creative potential of the younger generation. In his Address to the people of Kazakhstan dated Sep. 1, 2020, the Head of State pointed out the need to create conditions for mass and children's sports, as well as the development of the creative potential of children and adolescents. In pursuance of this instruction, amendments to the Laws on Culture, Physical Culture and Sports were adopted, within the framework of which the mechanism of state creative and sports orders for children and adolescents was introduced for the first time. In April 2021, all the necessary regulatory legal acts on per capita financing of sports sections and creative circles were adopted, a special portal Artsport.edu.kz was created.

The implementation of the state creative and sports order started on May 1, 2021. As of today, more than 283 thousand children and adolescents aged 4 to 17 years old attend sections and circles free of charge, including about 150 thousand people in sports, more than 133 thousand people in creativity.

At the same time, within the framework of the Roadmap for the implementation of the Nur Otan pre-election development program, it is planned to increase the number of children and teenagers and children and youth physical fitness clubs up to 1,000 until 2025, covering support villages. To date, their actual number in the country reaches 760 units, including 632 children and adolescents clubs and 128 children and youth physical fitness clubs. In general, by the end of 2021, 127,763 sports sections function in the republic, which cover 37.5% of children and adolescents or 1.5 million children of their total number. 33.4% or 1.3 million of the total number of children are engaged in 24,403 children's circles. Work in this direction will be continued within the framework of the Nur Otan Party's Roadmap with an annual increase in their number.

“2021 was declared the ‘Year of Children's Literature’, within the framework of which the Action Plan for attracting readers to libraries and promoting reading in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2021-2023 was approved. In order to increase reading literacy among children and adolescents, for the first time within the framework of the state social order, social projects such as the Zhasgalamger training school, a nationwide campaign ‘Reading Generation of Kazakhstan - 2021’ were carried out, etc. At the same time, within the framework of the Nur Otan Election Platform an annual increase in the collections of the country's libraries until 2025 is envisaged, incl. for blind and visually impaired citizens in the state language by 10%,” she added.

A draft "Plan of practical measures aimed at promoting a new culture and its talented representatives" has been developed. Within the framework of the project of the Support Plan for Creative Youth, about 80 events of the republican, regional and international levels are tentatively planned, aimed at the development of various directions and genres of culture, contributing to the disclosure of the creative potential of youth. Conditions for the development of the creative potential of children, as well as increasing the availability of cultural facilities for the population are created through the development of appropriate infrastructure. As part of the implementation of the electoral platform of the Nur Otan party, the construction of 89 cultural facilities will be completed in the republic by the end of 2021. Repair work will be completed on 267 cultural objects, thereby overfulfilling the planned indicator by 26.5% or 56 objects.

Within the framework of the Employment Roadmap in the field of culture in 2021, it is planned to implement 9 projects in 2 regions of the country. Within the framework of the project Auyl - Al Besigi in 2021, 64 projects for the construction, overhaul and reconstruction of cultural facilities in rural areas in 12 regions of the country are envisaged. The infrastructure of objects of historical and cultural heritage is also being developed. This year, the construction of the historical and cultural complex Zhoshy Khan was completed, the territory of the visit center of the museum-reserve Ulytau was fully landscaped, and the historical territory of the museum-reserve Hazret Sultan was at the final stage.

In 2021, the construction of the Saraishyk, Gaukhar Ana and Ordabasy visitor centers began, the construction of the Sauran visitor center is at the start stage, as well as design estimates for the construction of a fence in the medieval architectural style of the Bozok settlement, development of design and estimate documentation for the construction of the monument to Abai Kunanbayev in Bishkek; state expert examination of design and estimate documentation for the construction of the Issyk visitor center. In the same year, for the first time, the Norms of prices for the implementation of scientific restoration work on monuments of history and culture were approved, and thus prices were introduced, taking into account the specifics of scientific restoration work.

In 2021, the implementation of scientific restoration work on historical and cultural monuments was carried out in 5 directions at 45 objects of historical and cultural heritage, including:

1) at 21 republican monuments of history and culture on the basis of general planning;

2) at 9 sites of the Hazret-Sultan Museum-Reserve;

3) restoration of 10 objects of the Otyrar oasis;

4) scientific restoration work and museumification of the house-museum of Zhambyl Zhabayev;

5) scientific and restoration work of the house-museum of Mukhtar Auezov and its administrative building.

The most ambitious project of recent years to preserve the country's historical and cultural heritage can rightfully be called the development of the city of Turkistan. This year, Turkistan was officially recognized as the spiritual capital of the Turkic world within the framework of the informal summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking states. Scientific restoration work continues in the historical center of Turkistan. In general, works on the restoration, conservation and restoration of the Turkistan settlement covered 9 objects on the territory of 88.7 hectares, of which work has been completed on 4 historical and cultural sites. Also, comprehensive studies are underway to recreate one of the earliest urban settlements of Turkestan - the settlement of Kultobe.

In 2021, despite the quarantine measures, work continued within the framework of the special project "Sacred Geography of Kazakhstan" of the Rouhani Zhangyru program. 60 archaeological works were carried out at the sites as part of research work, which is 50% more than the planned figure. Also, scientific and restoration work was carried out at 29 objects of historical and cultural heritage. 13 scientific archaeological and applied research has been carried out, the level of which has been positively assessed by the National Scientific Council.

Currently, together with Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, work is underway to prepare nomination documentation to promote the transnational nomination “The Great Silk Road: Fergana-Syrdarya Corridor” to include unique historical and cultural monuments of Kazakhstan in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The territory of Kazakhstan includes the objects Sauran, Zheti Asar (Altyn Asar), Zhankent, Syganak, Otrar, Kultobe-Yassy (Turkistan).

Within the framework of the special project "Modern Kazakh Culture in the Global World" 20 events were held.

Last year, by the decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Dec. 22 was declared the Day of the Archivist, for the first time the departmental award Archiv Salasynyn Uzdigi was established. This year, more than 140 employees and veterans of the archival industry were awarded the departmental badge. It is symbolic that this year, for the first time in the year of the 30th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, employees of the country's archives celebrate their professional holiday. Today over 3 thousand people work in the archival industry of the country. With their direct participation, the preservation of archival documents for future generations is ensured, as well as regular replenishment of the National Archival Fund with new documents on the history of Kazakhstan.

“It is important to note the special significance of archives as repositories of historical memory that have enduring social, state and cultural value. Archival documents are an integral part of the historical and cultural heritage of Kazakhstan. Today the archives of our country are the richest information resources of the state, and they will serve society for more than one century,” said Aktoty Raimkulova.

This year, in order to automate the main processes of the state and departmental archives, as well as automate the provision of state services in the field of archiving, the information system "Unified Archive of Electronic Documents" was put into commercial operation. To date, 1,574 organizations are connected to the E-Archive. This measure will have a positive effect on ensuring the safety of documents on digital media, creating an electronic card index, extending the life of paper originals, quickly searching for documents from the national archival fund, as well as increasing the efficiency of government agencies and state archives.

In addition, attention is paid to the training of workers in the field of archiving, since with the direct participation of archivists, the preservation of archival documents is ensured. On Dec. 20, 2021, on the basis of the National Archives of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Center for Advanced Studies of employees of state and departmental archives was opened for the first time, where workers in this field will be trained, including in narrow specialties — a restorer, processing of scientific, technical and audiovisual documentation.

One of the main directions of the ministry is the further development of mass sports and increasing the competitiveness of high-performance sports on the world stage.

The funds allocated for the maintenance of professional sports clubs will be directed to the development of mass and children's sports. Unified approaches have been worked out on the issue of reorientation of financial resources allocated for the maintenance of professional sports clubs. So, the maximum allowable salary of an athlete was determined at the expense of budgetary funds and the quasi-public sector in the amount of no more than 2 million tenge.

The maximum amount of funds allocated from the state budget and the quasi-public sector for the maintenance of professional sports clubs has been established in the amount of:

- no more than 1.2 billion tenge for football and ice hockey;

- no more than 450 million tenge for other game types.

Thus, the total amount of funding for the currently existing 98 sports clubs amounted to 55.5 billion tenge. As a result of the measures taken, 18.1 billion tenge were saved, which were distributed as follows: 24.4% for the implementation of infrastructure projects, 27.5% for the state sports order and 48.1% for holding sports events. Of course, the development of mass sports depends on the availability of the necessary and accessible sports infrastructure for all segments of the population.

The Ministry of Culture and Sports this year, based on the analysis carried out, together with local executive bodies, developed a draft Plan-schedule for the development of sports infrastructure, including the construction of new, reconstruction, modernization and retrofitting of existing facilities, including those based on educational institutions. To date, the draft Schedule includes 233 sports facilities, of which 199 new facilities will be built, 28 will be reconstructed and modernized, 6 will be retrofitted. Currently, work is underway to coordinate these projects with local executive bodies.

In addition, at the end of 2021, there are 590 indoor sports complexes in the country, of which 125 are adapted for physical education and sports for people with disabilities. As a result, the share of the population with special needs who systematically go in for physical culture and sports was 13.2%.

At the same time, in order to ensure the availability of sports infrastructure, local executive bodies will additionally take measures to reduce the need for indoor sports facilities, including in rural settlements, through the construction of low-budget sports facilities and flat structures. These sports facilities will be in the form of sports cores, the maintenance of which will not bear the burden on local budgets. A draft design of a flat structure in the form of a sports core has been developed, which does not require the development of design and estimate documentation and includes an open football field, mixed basketball and volleyball courts, sports and development grounds for grades 1-4, 5-6, gymnastic grounds, jumping places in length, playgrounds for table tennis, mini football. Reducing the need for sports facilities will increase the proportion of the population systematically engaged in physical culture and sports from 33.8% to 50% in 2025.

For the first time since 2021, at the legislative level, the position of sports instructors has been introduced into the staffing table of local executive bodies. To date, within the framework of the Roadmap for the implementation of the Nur Otan electoral program, 3,064 sports instructors work in rural areas, which is 64 people more than the planned figure. Until 2025, their number will increase to 3,561, thereby it is planned to cover all rural settlements of the country.

The construction of 100 sports and recreation centers, started in pursuance of the instructions of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Elbasy Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev, is nearing completion. So, in 2019, the construction of 24 health and recreation centers was completed, in 2020, 35 health centers were commissioned. In 2021, it is planned to build 43 health and recreation centers, of which 26 have already been put into operation. By the end of the year, 17 health and recreation centers will be completed.

"The analysis of the performance of athletes at the Olympic Games in Tokyo demonstrates the need for a complete transformation of sports in the Republic of Kazakhstan, reforming the existing mechanisms for managing sports of the highest achievements," said the minister of culture and sports.

In order to develop proposals for revising the professional sports management system, the ministry has taken the following measures.

On the initiative of the ministry, the project office "Transformation of Sports" was created and is functioning, which includes members of Parliament, heads of the National Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee, sports federations, Olympic champions, world champions, famous coaches, heads of national companies and leaders of civil society.

An expanded collegium of the Ministry and the General Assembly of the National Olympic Committee was held with the participation of all sports federations in summer Olympic sports. At these sites, the main approaches to revising the professional sports management system and issues of further development of the sports industry as a whole were discussed.

As a result, the main proposals were developed for reforming the management system of the physical culture and sports industry, in particular:

- increasing the size of the monthly life-long material support of athletes and their coaches with at least 20 years of work experience, for high sports results from 24 MCI. According to international experience, in Russia, in particular, social support for athletes and coaches is set at 60,000 rubles, which is about 352,000 tenge.

- increase in payment for sports judges for servicing sports events up to 100% BDO. Today, for serving one day of sports competitions, judges are paid from 1,239 tons for sports judges 2,655 tenge to judges of the international category. International experience shows that in Europe for 1 day of refereeing, an average of 50 euros (25,250 tenge) is paid, in Turkey — 70 euros (35,350 tenge), in Russia - 4,000 rubles (24,000 tenge).

- an increase in the number of the regular number of athletes receiving salaries as an athlete-instructor from 1,000 to 3,000. This issue has remained unchanged since 1994. If in 1994 the number of national full-time teams in 60 sports was approved in the amount of 1,000 people. In 2021, there will also be 1,000 people unchanged for 138 sports.

- exclusion of the winners and prize-winners of the Olympic, Paralympic, Deaflympic and Youth Olympic Games, world champions from the list of persons passing the UNT, by making appropriate changes to the order of the Minister of Education and Science of Oct. 31, 2018 No. 600 "On Approval of the Model Rules for Admission to Training in the Organization education, implementing educational programs of higher and postgraduate education", as well as increasing the quota for the Bolashak presidential program for specialties in demand in the industry, including sports medicine and management.

It was proposed to strengthen the work on the preparation of the sports reserve by increasing the number of children and youth sports schools, Olympic training centers at the national level and Olympic reserve training centers at the regional and city levels. It is also proposed to exclude sports organizations from the list of facilities to be optimized, as well as to exclude sports facilities and organizations from the privatization list at the legislative level by analogy with cultural facilities.

Particular attention will be paid to the development of sports science and medical and biological support for athletes. In 6 regions of the country, it is necessary to open medical and physical dispensaries (Atyrau, Aktobe, West Kazakhstan, Mangystau, North Kazakhstan, Karaganda regions).

In addition, the ministry has begun work on the development of a draft Law "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Physical Culture and Sports" sports, training of a sports reserve, the efficiency of using sports facilities owned by the state, as well as the interaction of local executive bodies and accredited sports federations in the preparation of a sports reserve and national teams in sports. The implementation of the developed proposals will allow domestic athletes to compete with dignity in the world sports arena.

Much attention is paid to the social support of workers in the sphere of culture, archives, as well as physical culture and sports. As part of the instructions of the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, from Jan. 1, 2020, the salaries of employees of republican cultural organizations and archives were increased by establishing additional payments in the amount of 50%, and for employees of regional organizations in the amount of 35% of the official salary. Also, from Jan. 1, 2020, the salary of employees of specialized schools and colleges in the field of culture and sports has been increased, which will increase by 25% annually until 2023.

For the faculty of higher educational institutions in the sphere of culture and art, which have a special status, the coefficient 1.75 to the official salary remains. Upon termination of professional activity, ballet dancers have been assigned special monthly cash payments in the amount of 60% of the average salary for the last 3 years if they have at least 20 years of professional work experience. In order to strengthen state support for culture and art workers, talented youth in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the scholarship of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - the Leader of the Nation in the field of culture has been increased from 240 to 660 MCI per year.

In 2021, 46.6 million tenge was allocated to support creative unions within the framework of the state social order for the implementation of 7 projects of creative unions. The salaries of employees of the Anti-Doping Laboratory, the National Anti-Doping Center, employees of the Republican Training and Methodological Center for Sports, as well as coaches of the Directorate for Sports Development have been doubled. Since June 2021, an additional payment of 100% has been introduced to teachers of state educational organizations for conducting extracurricular sports activities. In addition, as part of the execution of the order of the Head of State, voiced in the Address of 2021, from 2022 an annual increase in salaries of all categories of civil servants (A, B, C, D), including employees of cultural organizations, archival affairs, is envisaged by an average of 20% until 2025.

Intensive work is underway to improve the living conditions of workers in these industries. An agreement was signed between the Ministry of Culture and Sports and JSC Mortgage Organization Kazakhstan Mortgage Company on the purchase of rental housing with the right of subsequent redemption for participants in the state program of housing and communal development Nurly Zher for 2020-2025. Within the framework of the state program, civil servants of the ministry from the city of Nur-Sultan have been allocated 20 apartments. The employees of the subordinate organizations of the ministry in Almaty were allocated 16 apartments and in Nur-Sultan 50 apartments were allocated. In Aktobe region, in order to provide social support to young people and workers in the sphere of culture, art and archives, with the support of the ministry, 38 one-room apartments have been allocated for specialists from the Department of Culture, Archives and Documentation with the right of purchase under the KIK program.

In order to develop the country's tourism industry, amendments were adopted to the Law on Tourism Activities, which provides for support measures for the tourism industry: subsidies for tour operators, reimbursement of costs for the construction of tourist facilities and SSU, the purchase of tour buses and others, which will come into force as early as Jan. 1, 2022. The measures taken will help both the tourist industry and ordinary citizens and will make the rest of the country more affordable and comfortable. For example, under the Kids Go Free program, family vacations will become cheaper by up to 30%, and attracting businesses to improve roadside service will make tourist routes more comfortable.

“Domestic tourism is currently the dominant direction in Kazakhstan. In just 9 months of this year, we recorded more than 5.2 million people of domestic tourists — this is more than in the same period of the pre-pandemic 2019. And about every fifth of them was a visitor to the national parks. This tells us that the demand for domestic tourism is growing, especially for recreation in natural areas,’’ said the minister.

The development of the hotel fund and the implementation of investment projects in the main tourist destinations are under constant control. A pool of 194 private investment projects with a total investment of 3 trillion tenge has been formed, the implementation of which is envisaged in the period 2021-2025. To date, out of 109 projects in 2021, 82 projects have been completed for 194.2 billion tenge with the creation of 2,000 jobs and 3,274 beds. Among them, the largest are the family entertainment and shopping center Caravan Saray complex in the amount of 88 billion tenge in the Turkistan region, the Theme Park in the amount of 47.7 billion tenge in the Mangystau region, the Galaxy hotel in the city of Baikonur, the ethno-resort Etno Park Resort worth 417 million tenge in the Turkistan region, the cultural and entertainment complex Alazone Arena 400 million tenge in the East Kazakhstan region.

An important factor in the investment attractiveness of tourist destinations is the provision of engineering, communication and transport infrastructure.

As part of the implementation of the State Program for the Development of the Tourism Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2019-2021, 126.1 billion tenge of public investment was allocated for the implementation of 80 projects, including 39 projects in the amount of 59.8 billion tenge were financed in 2021. Thus, the construction and reconstruction of about 250 km of roads, 88 km of storm sewers, 115 km of water supply, 96 km of power lines, 147 km of gas supply, 69 km of sewerage networks and other related infrastructure projects have been carried out.

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Work is underway to develop ecotourism on the territory of the Ile-Alatau State National Natural Park, including the construction of campgrounds, hiking trails, glamping sites, viewing sites, places of public catering and more. To date, the construction of a visitor center in the Ayusai gorge with campings, guest houses has been completed, trails have been equipped.

The work of attracted anchor investors in the Altyn Emel and Charyn Canyon parks has been actively started to equip the infrastructure for the comfort of tourists. Also this year, an investor was attracted to the implementation of an ecotourism project in the Kolsai Park. A. Raimkulova recalled that the total volume of investments in the 4 indicated national parks is expected to reach 24.5 billion tenge.

Within the framework of ecotourism projects, special attention is paid to the construction of visit centers, which should become the first point of contact of tourists with natural attractions. There are plans to build about 15 visitor centers in the national parks Ile-Alatau, Kolsay, Altyn Emel, Charyn, Gorelnik and Shymbulak.

“Providing the tourism industry with highly qualified specialists is an important aspect of the work. Currently, 1,357 students are studying at the International University of Tourism and Hospitality in the city of Turkistan, created on behalf of the Elbasy,” said Raimkulova.

Particular attention is paid to the digitalization of the tourism sector. The information system Kazakhstan.travel, E-QONAQ, Turstat was developed, the communication digital platform Tourism Online was launched. Also, a lot of work has been done to promote the country's tourism potential both in the domestic and foreign markets, develop tourism products and standardize the industry in the country. As a result, a number of prestigious awards have been won, as well as inclusion in the list of places to visit. For example, at the beginning of the year, Kazakhstan won the Best Guest Houses nomination by the global publishing house LonelyPlanet. The French edition of LeFigaro included Kazakhstan in the list of 21 recommended destinations in 2021. The Telegraph marked Kazakhstan as a Dynamically Developing Tourist Destination and Almaty as the top city budget destination for 2022. TheGuardian has compiled a list of the best places to visit, which included Kazakhstan. Advertising video of Kazakhstan Travelstan won in the category Best Country Video at the last 14th ART & TUR — International Tourism Film Festival in Portugal.

At the end of October 2021, special Days of Kazakh Tourism were organized at EXPO-2020 in Dubai, where both business meetings with the participation of domestic tour operators and cultural events were held. And last week, the Kazakhstan pavilion celebrated its 500,000th visit. Also this year, a hybrid format (online / offline) tourist forum "The Great Silk Road - Great Heritage" was held in Turkistan with the participation of foreign diplomats, the travel community, international organizations, tour operators of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

July 25 - Aug. 8, 2021, a tourist exhibition "Almaty Travel Park 2021" was held in Almaty with the participation of 14 regions, which include regional tourism departments, tourist information centers, tour operators and agencies, and industry companies.