L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, a dissertation defense for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Omirzakova Miroslava Zhambylkyzy on the topic «Geographic prerequisites for the development of rural tourism in the Aktobe Region» to the educational program «8D05213 – Geography».
The dissertation was carried out at the «Physical and economical geography education department» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.
The language of defense is kazakh
Official reviewers:
Aktymbayeva Aliya Sagyndykovna – Candidate of Geographical Sciences, Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Management of the NJSC «Al-Farabi Kazakh National University», specialty: 25.00.36 – «Geoecology» (Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan);
Mukaev Zhandos Toleubekovich – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Associate Professor, NJSC «Shakarim University», Department of Chemistry and Biology, specialty: «6D060900 – Geography» (Semey, Republic of Kazakhstan).
Temporary members of the Dissertation Committee:
Kurepina Nadezhda Yuryevna – Candidate of Geographical Sciences, Senior Researcher, Institute of Water and Environmental Problems, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, specialty: 25.00.33 – «Cartography» (Barnaul, Russian Federation);
Tokpanov Yerkin Aipovich – Candidate of Geographical Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of Natural Sciences, Zhetysu University named after I. Zhansugurov, specialty: 25.00.23 – «Physical Geography and Biogeography, Soil Geography and Geochemistry of Landscapes» (Taldykorgan, Republic of Kazakhstan);
Temirbayeva Roza Kabdikarimovna – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Geotourism and Geomorphology, JSC «Institute of Geography and Water Security», specialty: «6D060900-Geography» (Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan).
Scientific advisors:
Saparov Kuat Tabyldinovich – Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Professor, NJSC «L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University», Department of Physical and Economic Geography, specialty: 25.00.36 – «Geoecology», 25.00.23 – «Physical Geography and Biogeography, Soil Geography and Geochemistry of Landscapes» (Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan).
Jan A. Wendt – Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Professor, University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Institute of Geography, Department of Regional Geography Development, specialty: «Geography» (Gdansk, Republic of Poland).
The defense will take place on October 07, 2026, at 03:00 PM in the Dissertation Council for the training direction «8D052 – Environment» in the educational program «8D05213 – Geography» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Conducting a meeting of the dissertation council in a mixed (offline and online) format.
Address: Astana, 2 K. Satpayev Street, No. 1 Academic and Administrative Building, Scientific Council Hall (Room No. 206).
Abstract (English): Relevance of the research. At the present stage, the sustainable development of rural areas, the diversification of the regional economy, and the improvement of the quality of life of the population are among the strategic development priorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan. These priorities are reflected in a number of legislative acts and strategic policy documents that define the country's regional development agenda. The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On touristic activity» recognizes tourism as one of the priority sectors of the national economy, defining its role in regional development, the establishment of tourism infrastructure, and the rational use of tourism resources. The Law emphasizes the socio-economic significance of tourism, particularly the importance of domestic tourism as an effective instrument for enhancing the development potential of rural areas. In addition, the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On State regulation of development of agricultural complex and rural territories» establishes mechanisms for the integrated development of rural territories, increasing rural household incomes, and supporting entrepreneurship. Within the framework of this legislation, rural tourism, as an activity closely linked to the agro-industrial sector, is regarded as one of the most promising directions for diversifying the rural economy. An important financial mechanism for stimulating economic activity in rural areas is the state programme «Auyl Amanaty». The programme is aimed at increasing the incomes of rural residents primarily through concessional microcredit schemes and support for small and family-owned businesses. However, projects related to rural tourism, guest houses, ethno-villages, and agritourism are financed within the framework of general entrepreneurial initiatives rather than as an independent area of state support. This highlights the need to strengthen the institutional framework of rural tourism as a distinct strategic direction for the diversification of the rural economy. The development of rural tourism is also fully consistent with the principles of sustainable development established by the Ecological code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Code provides for the rational use of natural resources, ecosystem conservation, and the reduction of anthropogenic pressure on the environment. Since rural tourism is based on the utilization of natural and landscape resources, its development should comply with the principles of environmental sustainability. At the strategic level, the development of rural tourism is envisaged in the Strategic Development Plan of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2025 and the Concept for the Development of the Tourism Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023–2029. These strategic documents identify the promotion of domestic tourism, the development of tourist destinations, the improvement of tourism infrastructure, and the enhancement of the attractiveness of rural areas as key policy objectives. The issue of rural tourism development is particularly relevant for the Aktobe Region, which possesses substantial natural resource potential, diverse landscapes, rich historical and cultural heritage, and a pronounced agricultural specialization. Nevertheless, these advantages have not yet been fully and systematically integrated into the regional tourism economy. The region contains unique natural sites, contrasting landscapes, ethnocultural heritage assets, and traditional livestock farming practices that constitute a significant resource base for rural tourism development. At the same time, rural tourism has not yet evolved into an organized and structured sector; tourism infrastructure remains unevenly developed across the territory, while the participation of agricultural producers in tourism activities remains limited. Furthermore, mechanisms for the systematic branding and marketing of tourism products remain underdeveloped, cooperative networks are weak, and a scientifically substantiated territorial model for rural tourism development has not yet been fully incorporated into regional planning documents. Consequently, a considerable share of the region's natural and cultural resources remains excluded from the process of creating additional economic value, thereby constraining the realization of the region's socio-economic potential. Under these circumstances, rural tourism should be considered not as a spontaneously emerging phenomenon but as a scientifically grounded territorial system. Its development is directly associated with the diversification of rural economies, job creation, the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises, the stabilization of migration processes, and the improvement of rural social infrastructure. Therefore, a comprehensive study of rural tourism in the Aktobe Region within the framework of a territorial socio-economic system, including a multicriteria assessment of its resource potential, the identification of the spatial patterns governing its development, and the elaboration of differentiated development models, is of considerable theoretical and practical significance for strengthening the scientific basis of regional policy and promoting sustainable territorial development. The purpose of dissertation research. The purpose of this research is to identify the geographical preconditions for rural tourism development in the Aktobe Region, to analyze the spatial characteristics of natural-resource and socio-economic factors, and to provide a scientific justification for their role in the development of rural tourism. Research objectives 1. To systematize the theoretical and methodological foundations of rural tourism research, define its content as an object of geographical inquiry, and conduct a bibliometric analysis of the relevant scientific literature. 2. To substantiate methodological approaches and develop a multicriteria system of indicators for assessing the resource potential of rural areas for the purposes of rural tourism development. 3. To systematize the geographical preconditions for rural tourism development in the Aktobe Region. 4. To develop a typology of the districts of the Aktobe Region based on an integrated assessment of their rural tourism development potential and to propose differentiated development models. 5. To model possible scenarios for rural tourism development and forecast their impact on the socio-economic development of the region. Object of the research - The object of the research is the rural territories of the Aktobe Region. Subject of the research - The subject of the research is the geographical preconditions for rural tourism development and the spatial characteristics of its organization in the Aktobe Region. Theoretical and methodological framework. The theoretical framework of the dissertation is based on the concept of sustainable development, the theory of territorial socio-economic systems, and the landscape-geographical approach. The concept of sustainable development provides a framework for examining rural tourism through the integration of economic efficiency, social sustainability, and environmental balance. The theory of territorial socio-economic systems serves as the methodological basis for analyzing rural tourism as a complex territorial system formed through the interaction of natural-resource, demographic, agricultural, and infrastructural components. The landscape-geographical approach enables the assessment of the region's natural landscape diversity as the resource base for rural tourism development and facilitates the identification of the spatial patterns governing its organization. The methodological framework of the study is based on the systemic, integrated, and territorial approaches. Scientific novelty of the research. - An integrated territorial model of the geographical preconditions influencing rural tourism development has been developed. For the first time in the context of the Aktobe Region, rural tourism has been conceptualized as a territorial system formed through the interaction of natural-landscape, socio-economic, and infrastructural components. An integrated methodology for assessing the territorial organization of rural tourism has been improved. - A multi-level indicator system for assessing the resource potential of rural tourism has been enhanced. The natural landscape suitability index, tourism-climate ratings, transport accessibility indicators, and socio-economic characteristics have been integrated into a unified assessment model, making it possible to identify the spatial transformation patterns of the development potential of the districts. - A typological and scenario-based model for rural tourism development based on the territorial differentiation of the Aktobe Region has been proposed. For the first time, the region has been classified according to its resource potential and development constraints, providing a scientific basis for identifying differentiated rural tourism development trajectories. Key provisions submitted for defense. - The spatial patterns of rural tourism development in the Aktobe Region have been identified. The findings demonstrate that natural landscape conditions, agricultural specialization, and the demographic structure constitute the fundamental factors shaping rural tourism development, whereas the level of infrastructure provision determines the intensity of its spatial development. - A unified methodological framework for assessing the resource potential of rural tourism has been refined. The framework is based on normalized indicators and adapted to the regional context. Infrastructure indicators have been incorporated into the assessment system and evaluated in conjunction with natural and socio-economic factors. Furthermore, the assessment criteria have been optimized, and a quantitative evaluation of the region's rural tourism resource potential has been carried out. - The territorial differentiation of the rural tourism development potential across the districts of the Aktobe Region has been determined. Based on the results of the integrated assessment, a typology of the districts has been developed, revealing the spatial asymmetry in their levels of development. - Differentiated territorial development models and scenario-based forecasts for rural tourism development have been proposed. The modeling results indicate that the effectiveness of rural tourism development largely depends on the level of institutional support and confirm its significant multiplier effect on the socio-economic development of the region. Scientific and practical significance of the research. The scientific and practical significance of the dissertation lies in the implementation of the developed theoretical concepts, methodological approaches, and applied models into the practice of regional governance. The geographical assessment methodology for rural tourism development, the integrated multicriteria indicator system, the territorial typology, and the differentiated development models developed during the research are currently employed by public authorities of the Aktobe Region and its individual districts responsible for entrepreneurship and agricultural development. The practical implementation of the research findings has been officially confirmed by implementation certificates issued by the relevant organizations. The findings of the dissertation are used by the Department of Entrepreneurship of the Aktobe Region as a methodological framework for improving policy and planning documents aimed at promoting rural tourism development, as well as for evaluating investment projects and assessing the region's resource potential. The Departments of Entrepreneurship and Agriculture of the Bayganin and Kargaly districts apply the research results in managerial decision-making related to the territorial adaptation of rural tourism, the integration of natural sites into tourism activities, the development of tourist routes, and the involvement of local economic entities in tourism-related activities. The scientific findings presented in the dissertation provide a methodological basis for improving regional rural tourism policy, strengthening the scientific foundation of territorial planning and strategic management, and promoting the diversification of the local economy. Publication of research results. The principal findings of the dissertation have been published in international and national peer-reviewed scientific journals and have been presented to the academic community. A total of 10 scientific publications have been produced on the research topic, including 5 articles published in international peer-reviewed journals, 1 article published in a journal recommended by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and 4 papers presented at international scientific and practical conferences. The published works cover the theoretical foundations of the dissertation, the results of the assessment of rural tourism resource potential, territorial differentiation, and the proposed models and scenarios for rural tourism development. Structure and Organization of the Dissertation. The dissertation consists of an Introduction, three chapters, Conclusion, References, and seven appendices. The main body of the dissertation comprises 180 pages of text, including 21 tables and 33 figures. The reference list contains 171 sources.
Conclusion of the Research Ethics Committee
Defense of the dissertation: https://youtu.be/ZtWA-xkiyHY?si=mCKBymDCqMumLtIu
