Ski giant comes to Kazakhstan to develop Kok Zhailau resort

One of the world’s leading companies in the ski industry, Pas Grau International Management from Andorra, is coming to Kazakhstan. The company has registered a subsidiary in the Astana International Financial Centre as part of a large project to build a resort in the Kok Zhailau area.

In May 2025, PGI Management’s CEO Joan Viladomat presented the concept of the future ski resort called Almaty Superski, which will include Mount Kumbel and the Kok Zhailau gorge. According to the plan, the total length of ski slopes will be more than 65 kilometres. The project includes the installation of 16 modern ski lifts and the development of infrastructure such as hotels, rental shops, stores, a pharmacy, and ski schools for both children and adults. The developers emphasise that commercial infrastructure will take up no more than 2-3% of the total area. The project is expected to create over five thousand new jobs.

The resort will be part of a large state programme to expand the Almaty mountain cluster. In April 2025, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with Joan Viladomat to discuss the prospects for developing mountain tourism in the region. The government plans to increase the cluster’s capacity from six to ten thousand people per day, which will allow it to receive up to seven and a half million tourists annually by 2029.

The project has caused much debate because of concerns about environmental impact and the need to preserve the unique nature of the area. Nevertheless, it has received support at the highest level. At a press conference on 15 July, 2025, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov confirmed that infrastructure development in Kok Zhailau will move forward. He stressed the importance of using the potential of the Almaty mountains. 

“There are very few places in the world with such beautiful mountains and such good snow for skiing. Yes, we will develop Kok Zhailau,” Bektenov said.

The prime minister also said that the mountain cluster expansion programme will include areas near Talgar, the Oi Qaragai resort, Butakovka, Pioneer Gorge, Kimasar, Shymbulak, and parts near Kaskelen.

The idea to build a ski resort at Kok Zhailau appeared back in the 2000s, with active planning for ski slopes, hotels, and lifts starting in the 2010s. However, in 2018 and 2019, the project faced strong public opposition because of environmental concerns and possible harm to biodiversity and water resources. Following protests and intervention by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in October 2019, the work was paused.

Now, with the involvement of PGI - a global leader in ski resort construction with more than 120 projects worldwide  - the project is gaining new momentum. Authorities and investors assure that the development will balance economic benefits with environmental considerations to ensure sustainable and responsible use of one of Kazakhstan’s most valuable natural areas.

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