Integrating sustainability in destination management plans and policies of a post-Soviet state

Little is known about sustainable tourism transformations in post-Soviet countries. This particularly concerns the former Soviet Union Republics where no research has attempted to assess how/if the principles of sustainability have been embedded into destination management plans and policies (DMPPs). This study has critically evaluated the scope for integration of sustainable tourism in DMPPs in Kazakhstan, a former post-Soviet country in Central Asia. By interviewing key tourism stakeholders, the study has shown limited embracement of the principles of sustainability. The lack of—(1) an understanding of the sustainability concept by the national government, destination managers and industry practitioners; (2) subject-specific expertise in managing sustainable tourism projects; (3) community engagement in sustainable tourism planning and development; and (4) stakeholder collaboration—has been identified as the prime reason. A multi-level, multi-stakeholder action framework is proposed to aid the tourism industry of Kazakhstan in its advancement towards the sustainable (tourism) development goal.