Regional Conference on Empowering Women in Tourism

On October 22–23, 2025, the Regional Conference on Empowering Women in Tourism in Europe was held in Almaty, organized with the support of UN Tourism, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Almaty Tourism Bureau.

The event served as a platform for sharing experiences, discussing challenges, and finding solutions to promote gender equality and women’s leadership in the tourism industry. Several insightful sessions took place during the conference, including:

• Round Table “Gender Inequality in Tourism Leadership”
• Panel Discussion “Combating Stereotypes”
• Panel Discussion “Digital Inequality in Tourism”
• Panel Discussion “Women of Almaty in the Spotlight: Experience and Lessons from Women Shaping Kazakhstan’s Tourism Sector”

Among the distinguished speakers were prominent women from Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and Europe:

• Ms. Rashida Shaikenova – Independent Director of the Board of JSC “NC Kazakh Tourism”;
• Ms. Aisha Mambetalieva – President of the Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators;
• Ms. Azhar Nesipbayeva – Senior Second Officer of Airbus, Air Astana;
• Ms. Danna Karagusova – Entrepreneur, first Kazakh woman in space, Founder of First Media Group;
• Ms. Sadagat Davudova – Deputy Head of the Reserve Management Center, State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan;
• Ms. Seren Guven Gures – Head of the Central Asia Office and UN Women Country Representative in Kazakhstan;
• Ms. Irmela Preisner – Executive Director of Biblische Reisen (Germany), and others.

Special attention was paid to the achievements of women from Almaty actively contributing to tourism and urban development:

• Ms. Ada Dussali – Head of the Almaty School of Mountaineering, Founder of the women’s community “SolQyz”;
• Ms. Adiya Karsibek – Urbanist and designer;
• Ms. Anna Degtyaryova – Co-founder of “Almaty TourStudio”;
• Ms. Gulzhipa Koyanbayeva – Dispatcher at Almaty ElectroTrans Trolleybus Park;
• Ms. Svetlana Khaninaeva – Chef, Managing Partner of KazMyaso.

The Higher School of Tourism and Hospitality of Turan University was represented at the conference by Senior Lecturer Anastassiya Velichko and Master’s student in Tourism, Aisulu Kenzhebekova.

Teachers, master’s students, and undergraduates of the Higher School of Tourism also participated in the training seminar “Gender Equality in Tourism,” held as part of the conference and aimed at developing competencies in sustainable and inclusive tourism. Participants included lecturers Bakhytgul Demeyuova, Anastassiya Velichko, master’s student Aisulu Kenzhebekova, and undergraduate students of the “Tourism” and “Restaurant and Hotel Business” programs.

Such events contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 – “Gender Equality,” and strengthen the role of women in the development of tourism, education, and innovation in Kazakhstan.