TRANSPORT AS A FACTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL TOURISM IN AKTOBE REGION, REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

Transport provision is a basic condition for the development of tourism, and in accordance with the country's development plans, tourism has been recognized as one of the priorities of economic development, including the development of rural areas. In the context of growing competition for tourists and taking into account the presence of tourist attraction s and developed tourist infrastructure, the transport accessibility of the regions is becoming increasingly important. Despite the obvious importance of transport for all sectors of the economy, including tourism, if we take into account the size of the country, transport conditions for the development of tourism in Kazakhstan, especially rural tourism, have relatively little reflection in research topics, which was confirmed by literature studies on this topic. Therefore, the aim of the research undertaken is to analyze the spatial differentiation of the conditions for the development of tourism in Aktobezhsk Oblast in relation to the location of tourist attractions and transport accessibility. The research material includes data collected on the basis of field studies conducted in 2023-2024. Statistical data on transport in Aktobezhsk Oblast and its districts come from the Akimat of Aktobezhsk Oblast from the Department of Passenger Transport and Roads of Aktobezhsk Oblast. All factual material was verified and supplemented during field research. Using the developed criteria, an assessment of the accessibilit y of districts of Aktobe region, which have the potential for the development of rural tourism, not only domestic but also international, was carried out. The transport potential of Aktobe region is significant due to its size and geographical loca tion. The region is served by rail, road, air and pipeline means of transport. However, the quality and density of transport infrastructure remain underdeveloped. The underdevelopment of the transport network, as shown by statistical analyses of road, railway and air infrastructure, strongly confirms the hypothesis that the current transport system, despite the abundan ce of natural resources, actually limits the tourist accessibility of Aktobe region. Similarly, the conducted classification of the number of tourist attractions in the Aktobe region, the ranking of counties and the transport accessibility of tourist attrac tions. In summary, transport infrastructure plays a key role in the development of rural tourism in Aktobe region. Improving the road network and improving the accessibility of remote areas will help to balance tourist flows and increase the economic impact of rural tourism development.