Today, on April 19, 2023, the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Botai” held a round table at the Akan Sery Cultural Center in the village of Saumalkol, Aiyrtau District, North Kazakhstan Region, on the topic “Historical and Cultural Heritage of Aiyrtau in the Context of New Tourism Development Paths,” dedicated to April 18 – International Day for Monuments and Sites.

The aim of the event was to draw the attention of the public, researchers, and government representatives to the issue of preserving historical and cultural monuments.

In the first part of the round table, an exhibition of artifacts from the Botai Museum-Reserve was presented, along with creative works of applied art and handicrafts made by students of the Center for Support of Children in Difficult Life Situations and the Aiyrtau District Center for Additional Education. The exhibition also featured artistic works by museum restorer-artist Yu. B. Tikhonov, dedicated to the Botai cultural theme.

The second part of the event continued in the conference hall of the Cultural Center. The round table was opened by the Deputy Akim of Aiyrtau District, Zh. M. Zhusupov. Presentations were also delivered by A. G. Makhmetov, Head of the Entrepreneurship and Tourism Department of the Aiyrtau District Akimat, and D. T. Orumbaev, Director of the Shalkar Branch of the “Kokshetau State National Natural Park.” The reports focused on ideas for tourism development and the promotion of the historical and cultural heritage of the northern region.

In addition, active participation and presentations were made by D. N. Toleuov, a specialist of the Syrymbet Historical and Ethnographic Museum named after Sh. Ualikhanov, and K. K. Abilmaliikov, Senior Researcher of the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Botai”.

The event concluded with an award ceremony honoring participants of the round table who contributed to the protection and promotion of unique archaeological sites of the region and to raising awareness of historical heritage among young people.