Hidden Gems of Central Asia Captivate Chinese Tourists

As 2024 has been designated the Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China, an even larger influx of Chinese tourists is expected to visit the country.

In the first quarter, Central Asia witnessed a significant rise in travel, with Chinese visitors increasing by more than 300 percent year-on-year, according to Trip.com, a travel service platform in China.

Most of the visitors are millennials and Generation Z, who are drawn to destinations such as Almaty in Kazakhstan, Tashkent in Uzbekistan, Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, and Dushanbe in Tajikistan.

Central Asia is essentially attracting two types of tourists, Yu said, namely those who view it as a cost-effective transit point on long trips and those who seek niche travel destinations after visiting other countries.

"It's a place where you can experience deep historical and cultural immersion," she said.