Astana is making its debut at Tourism EXPO Japan 2026, one of the world’s largest international tourism exhibitions, taking place from September 24 to 27, 2026, at Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo.

This participation marks a strategic step towards positioning Astana as a rapidly developing business hub and a promising destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) among Japanese and international audiences.

The delegation includes representatives of the Astana Department of Investment and Entrepreneurship Development, the Astana Tourism Development Centre, the Astana Invest City Investment Development Centre, QazExpoCongress National Company JSC, Air Astana and leading Kazakhstani tour operators. Together, they are showcasing the capital’s modern infrastructure, world-class venues and expertise in hosting events of all sizes.

As part of the exhibition’s B2B programme, the Kazakhstani delegation held a series of key meetings aimed at strengthening international cooperation. Participants included The Telegraph’s Tokyo correspondent, Club Tourism International Inc., Informa Markets Japan / WHX Osaka, TIC Travel Center Co., Ltd., Innovative Space Carrier Inc., the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and Visit Monaco. Discussions focused on opportunities to raise Astana’s profile through media coverage, incorporate Kazakhstan into travel itineraries for Japanese visitors, attract industry events, and exchange expertise in destination marketing and the digital transformation of tourism.

“The Astana Tourism team is actively holding B2B meetings, and we are seeing strong interest in Astana as an emerging MICE destination. We are confident that this exhibition will serve as a starting point for attracting new partners, investors and projects, while strengthening the capital’s position as a business events hub connecting Asian and European markets,” said Daniyar Kurmanbayev, Director of the MICE Department.

Tourism EXPO Japan is a global platform that brings together more than 120,000 participants from 80 countries each year. It provides opportunities to secure business deals, build partnerships and identify key trends in conferences, business meetings, incentive travel and other corporate events. The exhibition is organised by the Japan Travel and Tourism Association (JTTA), the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) and the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/astana-uir/press/news/details/1299152?lang=ru