Kazakhstan courts Indonesian tourists with halal, Islamic sites

Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a halal tourism destination for Indonesian travelers, highlighting Islamic heritage sites, winter tourism and stays in nomadic settings. Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Indonesia Serzhan Abdykarimov pointed to Turkistan as a flagship destination because it features ancient monuments of Islamic civilization, including one recognized by UNESCO. He said 6,400 Indonesian tourists visited Kazakhstan in 2025. By the first half of 2026, the number had already reached 6,000 and could rise 120 percent over the full year if the trend continues. As of July 2026, more than 25,000 Kazakhstan citizens had also visited Indonesia.