The concept of dark tourism has attracted considerable attention in recent years. The studies in this field examine the convergence of tourism and morbidity. The research problem lies in understanding the complex dynamics between the preservation of historical sites associated with Kazakhstan’s former gulags and their role in the emerging dark tourism sector. This paper explores the tourist significance of the former gulags in Kazakhstan through the analysis of interviews, legislation texts and policy documents, and data on visitor numbers. Our aim is to illuminate the historical importance for tourism, educational value, and stakeholders associated with the preservation and promotion of these destinations. The analysis revealed the various and sometimes conflicting interests and concerns of the stakeholders, including tourists, local communities, government institutions, and the private sector. The analysis of statistical data provided valuable information on visitor demographics, preferences, and trends in the Karlag and Alzhir museums. These data highlighted the role of educational institutions and demonstrated the adaptability of museums in difficult times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. During the formation of future policies, effective collaboration with stakeholders, responsible tourism practices, capacity building, and sustainable marketing strategies are essential to the ethical and sustainable management of dark tourist sites. Thus, stakeholders can ensure that dark tourism continues to evolve in a way that respects historical integrity and benefits local communities, while contributing to the broader goals of education and commemoration.

The relevance of this study is due to the fact that at present ethno-tourism is one of the most promising and popular areas in the world tourism market. The main purpose of study is to review and compare tourism development theories in terms of the main drivers of ethnо-tourism development. This article examines the theory of the ethnо-tourism concept development, their definitions and distinctive elements, the relationship between this type of tourism and ethnicity and cultural heritage. The authors compared the concept of ethnо-tourism with cultural and ethnоgraphic tourism, then revealed a strong tie between these concepts. In addition, the study examined the primary and secondary importance of cultural tourism and ethnо-tourism for tourists. A systematic literature review was conducted in June 2022 based on two databases - ISI Web of Science and Scopus, the selected results were analyzed according to common characteristics and attributes: geographical location; assessment methods used in the article. According to the analyzed scientific papers, it was revealed that ethno-tourism research is gaining popularity in Asian countries, and comprehensive research methods are widely used. In addition, this study emphasized the need for collaboration of tourists and local residents in organizing ethnо-tourism activities and the benefits from developing ethnо-tourism in the region for representatives of the local community and the regional economy were discussed. The role of ethnо-tourism in the preservation and protection of the cultural heritage of local communities were emphasized. Furthermore, the functions and main resources for the development of ethnо-tourism were analyzed.

This article is devoted to a comprehensive study of the factors influencing the development of ecotourism in the Ulytau Nature Park, Kazakhstan. The authors use an integrated methodology that combines quantitative (statistical analysis) and qualitative (Analytic Hierarchy Process, survey of the local population) methods of analysis. The purpose of the study is to develop a model that allows predicting the development of ecotourism and justifying strategic decisions for its sustainable development. As a result of the survey, 8 key factors affecting the development of ecotourism were identified: perceived environmental sustainability, perceived social cost, perceived economic benefits, maximizing community participation, long-term planning, community-centered economy, sense of place, and support for tourism development. Both subjective estimates (Analytic Hierarchy Process) and objective statistical data were used to determine the weights of these factors. Comparative analysis revealed discrepancies between subjective assessments and objective indicators, especially in the perception of the region’s image. The main result of the study is the development of a qualitative model that uses logistic regression to assess the impact of factors on the development of ecotourism. This model, which considers both subjective and objective data, allows to simulate various scenarios and predict the development of the industry. The results obtained make it possible to identify priority areas for the development of ecotourism in Ulytau and develop recommendations for the creation of a sustainable and socio-economically effective model for the development of ecotourism both for Ulytau and for other regions with similar conditions. The article contributes to the existing body of knowledge on sustainable tourism development by offering a multidimensional data-driven approach that goes beyond theoretical discussions.

Today, tourism plays a crucial role in Kazakhstan's economic diversification and regional development, especially in the post-pandemic era. This study aims to identify and quantify the key economic and infrastructural factors influencing tourism development in Kazakhstan. The research employs multiple regression analysis based on econometric modeling of macroeconomic indicators from 2013 to 2024. Based on the study of time series and correlation dependencies of indicators, a close relationship was found between the number of tourists and such variables as gross domestic product, the share of tourism in GDP, the number of organizations in the tourism sector, and income from accommodation facilities. The results indicate a strong positive relationship between domestic tourism growth and GDP per capita (β = 0.0508, p < 0.01) as well as the share of tourism in GDP (β = 447,484, p < 0.05). The number of tourism-related organizations also demonstrates a positive, though weaker, effect (β = 637.8, p<0.1). However, accommodation revenue and hotel occupancy were found to be statistically insignificant. Using methods and SWOT analysis, the strengths and weaknesses of the industry were identified, and opportunities and threats influencing its sustainable development were determined. The article proposes strategic measures to improve the competitiveness of the tourism industry, including the development of regional tourism, diversification of tourism products, the introduction of digital technologies, and environmentally responsible practices. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders to support long-term tourism growth in Kazakhstan.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) quarantine restrictions led to significant changes in the food industry's delivery methods, with a notable rise in online food delivery services (OFDS). This increase necessitates a deeper understanding of the factors influencing the continued use of these services. This study investigates the relationships between perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, satisfaction, confidence, trust, and continuous intention to use OFDS applications among young consumers in Kazakhstan. An integrated model based on expectation-confirmation and technology acceptance models, incorporating the habit of online shopping as a moderator, was used. Data was collected from 433 respondents with prior OFDS experience and analyzed using Smart PLS 4.0. The results show positive correlations between perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, satisfaction, confidence, trust, and the continuous intention to use OFDS among young Kazakhstani consumers. Additionally, the study confirms the moderating role of online shopping habits in the relationship between satisfaction and trust and the continuous intention to use OFDS. These findings offer valuable insights for companies in the online food delivery sector, highlighting key factors that can enhance managerial and IT strategies to boost revenues and foster sustained use of OFDS applications.