Air Astana airline tickets have become available on Ctrip, China's largest travel and tourism platform. Kursiv LifeStyle learned what results this decision led to. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

According to the Almaty Tourism Department, the campaign to promote the city on the Chinese tourism market reached over 75.3 million users. As a result, ticket sales from Chinese cities to Almaty increased 20 times over two months compared to 2025.

Currently, Chinese tourists prefer independent travel and active recreation. The most popular destinations for them are Shymbulak, Kolsai Lakes, and the Big Almaty Lake.

Most travelers arrive in Almaty from cities with direct flights: Beijing, Shanghai, Urumqi, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Xi'an. Their age is 35-49 years. However, there is a trend towards tourism in Almaty among Chinese residents aged 25-34. They are mainly interested in mountain tourism.

Earlier, Kursiv LifeStyle reported that in 2025 Almaty received almost 2 million guests. However, on the map of domestic tourism, the city was not in first place — it slightly yields to the Turkestan region.

Strategic move in the Chinese market

Selling Air Astana tickets on Ctrip is a strategic step by the Kazakh airline to strengthen its position in the Chinese market. The platform is one of the largest online travel services in China and allows reaching millions of users.

According to the Almaty Tourism Department, the campaign reached over 75.3 million users, significantly increasing the interest of Chinese tourists in the city. As a result, there is a significant increase in ticket sales.

Preferences of Chinese tourists

The interest of Chinese tourists in Almaty is connected not only with the city's attractions but also with the development of mountain tourism. Shymbulak, Kolsai Lakes, and the Big Almaty Lake — these destinations have become the most popular among Chinese travelers.

Most tourists arrive from cities with direct flights, which facilitates travel. Beijing, Shanghai, Urumqi, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Xi'an — these cities have regular flights to Almaty.

Age dynamics

The main age of Chinese tourists is 35-49 years, but recently there has been a growing interest among young people aged 25-34. This may be due to the new generation's interest in mountain tourism.

Almaty's place in tourism

In 2025, Almaty received almost 2 million guests, but in domestic tourism the city ranks second after the Turkestan region. This indicates the need for further development of the city's tourism potential.

Active work in the Chinese market will increase the flow of tourists to Almaty and strengthen its position on the world tourism map.