Almaty will showcase its tourism and business capabilities as a destination for international business meetings, incentive programmes, conferences, exhibitions, and corporate travel at Korea MICE Expo 2026 (KME 2026), which will take place from November 17 to 19, 2026, at the COEX Magok Convention and Exhibition Center in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
The Almaty Tourism Bureau will participate in the exhibition with its own dedicated stand to highlight the city’s tourism and business potential, strengthen its presence in the South Korean market, and establish new connections with industry professionals. Participation in KME 2026 will further support ongoing efforts to promote Almaty as a promising destination for business and event tourism in international markets.
Korea MICE Expo is one of the leading specialized exhibitions for the MICE industry (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) in the Republic of Korea. The event is organized by the Korea MICE Association with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The exhibition brings together representatives of national and regional tourism organizations, convention bureaus, professional event organizers, MICE agencies, the hospitality sector, and corporate buyers.
According to the organizers, KME 2026 is expected to attract more than 5,000 MICE industry professionals from the Republic of Korea and other countries. The exhibition is expected to feature approximately 450 booths and facilitate more than 4,000 B2B meetings. The programme will also include professional conferences, industry discussions, destination presentations, and business networking events.
One of Almaty’s key competitive advantages is its combination of well-developed hospitality and business infrastructure with close proximity to mountain resorts and natural attractions. Modern conference venues, a wide range of accommodation options, and diverse cultural and gastronomic experiences enable the city to host events of various formats while complementing business programmes with leisure activities and excursions.
The Republic of Korea represents one of the promising source markets for the development of inbound tourism to Kazakhstan and Almaty. According to the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the number of visitors from the Republic of Korea reached 19,480 in 2023. In 2024, this figure increased by 3.3% to 20,114 visitors, followed by a further 15.3% increase in 2025, reaching 23,200 visitors.
During the first half of 2026, Kazakhstan welcomed 12,122 visitors from the Republic of Korea, representing a 24.6% increase compared to the same period in 2025, when 9,725 visitors were recorded. The growing visitor flow reflects increasing interest in Kazakhstan and creates additional opportunities for strengthening tourism and business cooperation between the two countries.
The development of bilateral tourism is supported by direct air connections between Almaty and Seoul, operated by Kazakhstan’s national carrier Air Astana and South Korean airlines Asiana Airlines and Eastar Jet. These direct flights enhance Almaty’s accessibility for tourists, business travelers, and corporate groups from the Republic of Korea.
As part of Korea MICE Expo 2026, representatives of Almaty plan to hold business negotiations with South Korean MICE agencies, travel companies, and corporate buyers. These meetings are expected to contribute to new partnership agreements, the inclusion of Almaty in corporate travel and incentive programmes, and the creation of opportunities to attract international business events to the city.
