Inclusive tourism as a factor for sustainable development in Kazakhstan: prerequisites and opportunities

This article explores inclusive (accessible to all) tourism as a factor in Kazakhstan's sustainable development, systematizing the institutional, socioeconomic, and technological prerequisites for its scalability. The theoretical basis is international frameworks (UN CRPD, UNWTO and OECD approaches) and national standards (ST RK ISO 21902-2024), while the empirical basis is official statistics from the Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan on domestic tourism and the demography of persons with disabilities. Methodologically, the study relies on institutional and structural-functional analysis, statistical and analytical methods, and a problem-oriented approach, which allowed for the construction of a multi-level institutional and economic model for the development of inclusive tourism. It is shown that adapting some infrastructure and implementing accessibility standards can increase industry revenues and contribute to GDP, reduce seasonality, and strengthen social integration and quality of life. Key barriers (lack of national certification, insufficient personnel and interdepartmental coordination, and uneven end-toend accessibility) are identified, and solutions are proposed: launching an Accessibility Index, certifying facilities and routes, incentivizing businesses (benefits/grants), integrating inclusive service modules into educational programs, and digitalization (VR/AR, eGov, navigation). The scientific novelty lies in combining international standards and the national regulatory and economic framework into a single applied model suitable for policy and management decisions.

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