Published on: 2026-05-11
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
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According to a report by the Sanyang newspaper South China Morning Post dated April 26, analysts note that thanks to the “Belt and Road” initiative, the powerful growth of passenger traffic, the expanding network of air routes and deepening economic ties, Central Asia, previously considered a niche destination, is rapidly turning into a significant market for Chinese travelers.
Major Patel, head of the Asia-Pacific department of the British aviation consulting company OAG, stated that data shows a 59.3% growth in passenger air traffic between China and Central Asian countries in 2025 compared to the previous year.
Subramanya Bhat, CEO of the Singapore marketing company China Trading Desk, said: “Besides tourism, these routes are also supported by business trips, trade relations, government exchanges, educational cooperation, and visits to relatives, which makes demand somewhat more stable.”
Traditionally, Central Asia has not been among the priority destinations for Chinese tourists. From the point of view of tourism, the preference for a long time was given to Southeast and East Asia. At the same time, business trips to the Central Asian region were quite limited.
Major Patel stated: “China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ has revived interest in Central Asia, stimulating the development of infrastructure, trade, and interconnectedness throughout the entire region. These structural investments have created a stable demand for business trips that practically did not exist ten years ago.”
It is reported that destinations such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan attract travelers from all over the world who are interested in gaining unique cultural experiences, and offer Chinese tourists more accessible options and a simplified visa regime. China has signed agreements on mutual visa-free regimes with both countries.
The newspaper reports that in order to meet the growing demand, airlines are opening new routes connecting China and Central Asia. The latest significant event is that Kazakhstan’s national carrier AirAstana announced the launch of the Shymkent-Almaty air route, thanks to which the number of flights between the two countries increased to 32 per week.
Ibragim Zhanliyev, CEO of AirAstana, stated that, considering the expected growth in business trips, tourism, and flows of foreign students, the airline plans to launch flights in June from the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, to Guangzhou, and in the summer of this year to increase the number of flights from Almaty and Astana to Beijing, as well as from Almaty to Urumqi.
At the end of March this year, the Chinese airlines China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines also launched flights from Guangzhou to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and from Shanya to Tashkent (Uzbekistan), respectively.
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