Kazakh Tourism National Company has introduced a draft concept to transform the historic Baikonur cosmodrome into a future-focused destination for scientific and industrial tourism. The plan aims to attract visitors year-round, beyond just the times of rocket launches.
The project, titled "Baikonur: From Silk Way to Milky Way," was unveiled during a facilitation session in Astana on June 2, bringing together stakeholders from tourism, academia, and government. The initiative aligns with the upcoming 70th anniversary of the renowned spaceport.
Discussions at the session centered on crucial aspects of the development, including infrastructure modernization, the creation of new tour routes, strengthening the Baikonur brand, and attracting investment and strategic partnerships for sustainable growth.
Kairat Sadvakasov, Chairman of Kazakh Tourism, emphasized that the core of the concept is to build a self-sustaining tourism ecosystem that thrives even in the periods between rocket launches. "Baikonur is gaining a clear trajectory for future development," Sadvakasov stated. "We envision Baikonur as a global platform of the future, combining cultural diplomacy, museum transformation and brand development."
A key priority of the strategy is to expand "inter-launch tours" to ensure a consistent flow of visitors, which would optimize the use of existing facilities and reduce seasonal pressures.
To propel these ambitions, a consortium was established in 2025 between Kazakh Tourism and the state-owned Infracos enterprise. This partnership will focus on developing space tourism, astro-tourism, and cultural tourism at Baikonur and its associated sites.
Marking a significant step in enhancing the visitor experience, an Open-Air Museum was recently inaugurated in the city of Baikonur. The museum showcases authentic space technology, reinforcing the site's legacy as a living monument to human space exploration and creating new engagement opportunities for tourists. This development, coupled with the new tourism strategy, signifies Kazakhstan's broader efforts to diversify its tourism portfolio and highlight its unique heritage on the world stage.
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The Aerospace Committee of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry has declared 2026 the Year of Visiting Baikonur, marking a strategic shift in how the famous cosmodrome is presented internationally.
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