The government exerted all its efforts to bring the project, initiated by major corporations, to fruition: it swayed public opinion through manipulated polls, launched an extensive PR campaign, and released flashy presentations showcasing how the resort would enhance Almaty’s tourism prospects.
After assuming office in 2019, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev halted and ultimately scrapped the project.
“I prohibit the construction of a ski resort on Kok-Zhailau. It’s unnecessary,” Tokayev declared at that time.
The project was then labeled as “postponed,” potentially igniting a conflict between urban planning experts and the public on one side and the government and business interests on the other.
Meanwhile, Tokayev appears to have shifted his stance, as he directed the construction of a resort within the framework of developing Almaty’s mountain cluster last year.
The government promptly outlined an extensive plan for the mountain cluster’s development and announced they had “concluded” a public discussion on it—discussions that, in reality, never occurred.
At the same time, the same officials took years to finalize the Water Code, a vital aspect of Kazakhstan’s environmental protection.
The revised project was presented to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov at the Medeu skating rink, yet this presentation was left undisclosed to the public.
What did Bektenov mean by saying «we will ascend, closer to the glaciers»? With the project not available for public scrutiny, what kind of environmental harm could it potentially inflict?
Clearly, the government will persist in promoting its plans for mountain tourism in Almaty as «environmentally friendly.» However, it is evident that the project will involve constructing new roads, real estate, and additional infrastructure, threatening the landscape and vegetation.
Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, is bustling with tourists yet continues to grapple with enduring issues, including insufficient street lighting and inadequate public transport. Environmental and air pollution, especially in winter, remains a persistent challenge.
Mega-projects either evolve into protracted delays (consider the protracted gasification of the Almaty Thermal Power Plant) or ultimately fall short of expectations.
The government will need to clarify the origins of the substantial investments in the mountain cluster project (estimated at no less than 600 billion tenge, or $1.2 billion) and, importantly, ensure its transparency.
Even if the current high-ranking officials have no intention of residing in Almaty, the city and its surrounding nature warrant diligent stewardship. Opponents of the Kok-Zhailau development hold this belief. Initially, Tokayev seemed to share it as well.
