The world-famous EXPO grandmother, 80-year-old Tomiyo Yamada from Japan, was one of the first to use the unified tourist card CityPASS Kazakhstan, which was launched in Astana on the eve of the capital’s Day.
Using a smart card, Tomiyo Yamada and his family visited the following objects: the national Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the monument “Astana-Baiterek”, “Oceanarium”, and also took a ride around the city on a double-Decker bus. Kazakhstanis very warmly welcomed EXPO-grandmother, wherever she was met.
The tour on a double-Decker red bus started from the shopping center “Mega Silk Way”. The representative of the CityPASS Kazakhstan project introduced the guests of the capital to the city, telling in detail about the history of the young capital’s formation. One of the first objects that opened its doors was the national Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the youngest and largest in Central Asia. The next point of the tour was the symbol of independent Kazakhstan monument “Astana-Baiterek”. The last object of the visit was the unique structure of the Oceanarium, a drop of ocean in the middle of the steppe.
After walking along the sea floor, just a few centimeters from the sharks, EXPO-grandmother Tomiyo Yamadu shared her impressions: “I will remember Astana only with a sense of admiration. I am sure that the city will become even more picturesque for foreign tourists every year. I am very happy that people in Kazakhstan are very friendly and hospitable. We will definitely remember today, because today we saw all the beauty of Astana, thanks to which we fell in love with Kazakhstan”.
The unique project CityPASS Kazakhstan was launched for the first time with the support of the mayor’s Office of Astana in the person of “Astana Convention Bureau”, it is a familiar way of visiting a new city for foreign tourists.
Currently, Astana has launched 2 pilot projects Astana CityPASS and EXPO CityPASS, which significantly facilitate the stay of tourists in the capital and save not only time, but also money. Savings range from 20 to 50 %. By the end of the year, it is planned to open a single tourist card Almaty CityPASS.
