Kazakhstan lifts visa requirements to boost tourism

Kazakhstan said Tuesday it had lifted visa requirements for citizens of the European Union, OECD countries and a number of other states in a bid to boost investment and tourism.

The move, which follows a similar measure by neighbouring Uzbekistan, comes as Central Asia's largest economy has been battered by low oil prices and financial distress in neighbouring Russia. The foreign ministry in Astana said that starting January 1, citizens of EU and OECD countries, as well as Malaysia, Monaco, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore, could travel to Kazakhstan for up to 30 days without a visa. The initiative was meant to "promote an even more favourable investment climate" and "develop the country's tourism potential", the ministry said in a statement.

Kazakhstan's landscape is dotted with mountains, lakes and desert, and the glitzy capital Astana is home to futuristic architecture. Neighbouring Uzbekistan last month announced plans to roll back its highly restrictive tourism regime by cancelling visa requirements for 15 countries. That move followed the election of interim leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who succeeded to the late strongman Islam Karimov.