Unique Tourism Appeal: Kazakhstan offers diverse natural landscapes (deserts, mountains, forests, plains, Caspian Sea), rich nomadic and Golden Horde history as a Eurasian crossroads, and modern urban amenities; the Ambassador recommends at least 10–15 days to experience its scale and variety.

Recent Constitutional Reforms: A March 2026 referendum led to a new Constitution (effective July 1) featuring a unicameral parliament, introduction of a Vice President for continuity, stronger emphasis on a “Listening State,” human rights, social protections, and democratic modernization, with new parliamentary elections set for August 23.

Strong Investment Partnership with the Netherlands: The Netherlands is Kazakhstan’s largest foreign investor; the country promotes localization of production, special economic zones, tax incentives, and full support services, positioning itself as a reliable bridge between Asia and Europe for Dutch and European businesses.

Derya Soysal:  Your Excellency, Kazakhstan is increasingly attracting international visitors thanks to its rich cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes. In your view, what makes Kazakhstan a truly unique destination? Why would you encourage travelers from around the world to visit Kazakhstan, and what experiences can they find there that they might not discover elsewhere?

Ambassador Akan Rakhmetullin: There are really many different reasons to visit Kazakhstan because Kazakhstan is part of the larger region of Central Asia and is the biggest Central Asian country. It has a very unique historical background and a very interesting historical development.

We share many common values and historical backgrounds with other Central Asian countries. Responding to your question, every ambassador would say that his or her country is the most important and the most unique to visit. It is really, really difficult to compete with many other destinations because many countries are equally important, interesting, and unique to visit.

But what I may say about my country is that the first and biggest reason is our history. It is a unique history.

We were nomads. We traveled from place to place, and we managed to preserve this huge territory that we have today. This vast territory also means that we are a very diverse nation.

We have a very diverse population and a very diverse geographic landscape, ranging from deserts to mountains, from lakes to seas, and from forests to plains.

The second reason is our nature. Again, because of our country’s vast territory and diverse geography, we have very unique natural zones.

There are forests, mountains, and even landscapes that are used as filming locations for movies about extraterrestrial worlds—places that seem almost otherworldly. Tourists come there to enjoy nature and appreciate its extraordinary diversity.

For example, visitors can travel from Eastern Kazakhstan, with its forests, mountains, and crystal-clear rivers, all the way across the country to Western Kazakhstan, where they encounter deserts, canyons, and the Caspian Sea. It is a fascinating combination of landscapes that often look almost extraterrestrial.

If you travel to the north, you will mainly see vast plains. You can drive for hours, even days, or travel by train across the country while looking out over endless stretches of great plains. In the south, nature is equally diverse. So, nature is certainly one of Kazakhstan’s greatest attractions.

The second important aspect is history. As I mentioned earlier, we were nomads, and that shaped the way our nation developed. Historically, we were part of the great Golden Horde.

Derya Soysal: You organized the major Golden Horde Conference this year.

Ambassador Akan Rakhmetullin: Yes. This conference was devoted to identifying and better understanding our historical background. For many reasons, whether political or ideological, history has sometimes not been presented in a fully objective and accurate way.

This conference, together with the work of our historians, scientists, and academics, is about understanding our past so that we can better understand our future—where we come from, where we are........

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