Kapshagay Reservoir braces for 1.8 million summer visitors in 2023
Kapshagay's Tourism Industry Expands Ahead of Summer Season
With less than two months until the start of the swimming season at the Kapshagay Reservoir—a hub for over 180 tourist facilities, including hotels, guesthouses, and children's health camps—the region is gearing up for another record-breaking year. According to the Konayev city administration, nearly 1.8 million visitors flocked to the popular resort area last summer, once again setting a new attendance high.
Weekend Getaway to Kapshagay
Stretching 6.1 kilometers along the reservoir's shoreline, the area now operates under a unified beach design code, with ongoing construction of hotels, entertainment venues, and wellness centers. Most visitors come from Almaty, for whom "Kapchik" (as the reservoir is affectionately known) is the closest and most beloved beach destination—just a 70-kilometer drive from the city along a high-speed highway. The resort also attracts travelers from other regions of Kazakhstan, as well as international guests.
For Konayev, tourism is a key driver of the local economy. Each summer, the small resort town sees a surge in trade, services, and seasonal employment.
The reservoir features two main recreational zones—the Almaty and northern shores—each with its own appeal. The Almaty side is home to large hotel complexes and beaches, while the northern shore is being developed as an accessible public space with modern infrastructure.
The busiest spots are municipal beaches No. 5, 6, and 7, where essential sanitary conditions are maintained: restrooms, trash bins, and waste containers are installed. Medical stations are set up, lifeguards, police, and private security patrol the area during the summer, and a video surveillance system operates around the clock.
A year ago, a new 1-kilometer promenade opened, complete with pedestrian walkways, piers, sports facilities, food court outlets, and shops. The area has been landscaped, with designated swimming zones, sun loungers, shaded pavilions, and decorative installations. All facilities are connected to water supply and sewage systems. Following a national competition, Konayev's Beach No. 5 secured second place.
Another standout attraction is the ASP Arena, a multifunctional complex recently built on the reservoir's southern shore. The site includes a camping area, swimming pool, hotel, ice rink, and a stadium hosting auto and motorcycle races, as well as drift shows. Last year alone, the complex welcomed up to 200,000 domestic and foreign tourists. This season, operators aim to double that number.
Over the next few years, a tourist mini-city with all the necessary infrastructure will emerge on the shore of the reservoir, featuring hotels, a casino, an amusement park with a Ferris wheel, spa salons, and shopping and entertainment centers. The entire complex will be built by the Chinese company Zhibek Zholy Cultural Tourism. Industry experts estimate that the sprawling 15-hectare development will become one of the region's landmark attractions.
Domestic investors also plan to construct a network of cable cars connecting Oi-Karagai and Shymbulak. According to the master plan, by 2029, the total length of ski slopes will expand to 700 kilometers, with world-class infrastructure made accessible to a broad public. Analysts forecast that annual visitor numbers to the ski resorts will surge from the current 300,000 to 850,000.
