INFRASTRUCTURAL SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN RURAL AREAS OF KAZAKHSTAN: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

Purpose of the research – comparative analysis of the level of infrastructure provision in rural areas of Kazakhstan, which allows to determine the strategic directions of its development.Methodology – a systematic approach to studying the problems of infrastructure security; methods of statistical and economic analysis. The research is based on the fundamental provisions of the concepts and hypotheses presented in classical and modern studies of foreign and domestic scientists, based on the system-functional approach, as well as software developments of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of regional development. This study is based on the use of methods of systemic, comparative and cluster analysis, methods of classification and grouping, multivariate statistical analysis, which made it possible to carry out a comparative analysis of the provision of rural areas of Kazakhstan with infrastructure, to group regions, which made it possible to determine the strategic directions for the development of infrastructure in rural areas of the country. To process the initial statistical information, the "Classification Analysis" package of the "IBM SPSS Statistics" application was used.Originality / value of the research – lies in the fact that the comparative analysis of the level of provision of rural areas in the regions of Kazakhstan with basic infrastructure makes it possible to differentiate the regions of the country by the level of infrastructure provision and determine the priority directions of its development, which ultimately will provide them with tourist attractiveness. The findings of the study may be of interest in the development and implementation of programs for the socio-economic development of regions, the development of the tourism industry, as well as for the implementation of scientific research on the integrated development of rural settlements by government bodies.Findings – A comparative analysis of the infrastructural provision of rural areas of Kazakhstan made it possible to identify existing problems in ensuring transport accessibility of destinations, a low level of provision of utilities and social infrastructure, which determines the unattractiveness of rural areas as tourist destinations and low demand from potential tourists.