The Almaty region resort beat roughly 250 CIS nominees in Moscow, and it is following the win with a 20 percent discount for Kazakh citizens and a 53.2 billion tenge expansion due in 2028.
Most ski awards go to resorts most people will never visit. On October 28, one went to a mountain 35 kilometers east of Almaty, inside Ile-Alatau National Park, where a weekday lift pass now costs 15,200 tenge if you carry a Kazakh passport.
Oi-Qaragai was named Best Ski Resort in the CIS Countries at the international Ski Business Awards 2026. The timing is what makes it interesting. The resort has just launched a locals-only tariff and started a privately funded build-out that should reshape skiing near Almaty by 2028.
A Trophy Case That Keeps Filling
The Ski Business Awards were established in 2018, and industry professionals treat them as the “Oscar” of the ski industry. The 2026 edition ran across 46 nomination categories, with about 250 nominees from CIS countries competing each year for recognition of resort infrastructure, technological innovation, and service quality.
The prize was presented at the Forum of Tourist Territories in Moscow, a ceremony that gathers ski tourism industry representatives from across the former Soviet Union.
Oi-Qaragai is not a first-time winner here. It previously took awards for Best IT Solution and Best Children’s Camp Program. In 2025 it was honored for its marketing achievements, and Marketing Director Maxim Kozlov won Best Marketing Director at the same awards.
General Director Alexander Voronin described the CIS title as recognition of the Almaty region, Kazakhstan, and Kazakh tourism as “locomotives of this direction on the scale of the Eurasian continent.” He said the award confirms the resort is “moving in the right direction” and will stimulate further development.
The Otan Tariff: 20 Percent Off for Kazakh Citizens
Voronin’s stated priority is more practical than the trophy. It is making mountain recreation more accessible for Kazakh citizens, and the centerpiece is the Otan tariff. Oi-Qaragai is the only resort in the country offering such a program.
The tariff launched in March 2026. Kazakh citizens pay discounted prices compared with foreign tourists, roughly 20 percent below the standard price list.
In concrete terms, a weekday adult day ski pass falls from 19,000 tenge to 15,200 tenge. Management says the initiative followed international practice and an analysis of guest feedback.
Before you plan a trip, know how the discount actually works:
– You buy offline at the resort ticket offices, presenting identity documents.
– It is limited to individual buyers, so corporate orders do not qualify.
– Foreign tourists pay standard rates.
53.2 Billion Tenge, 1,200 Jobs, and a 2028 Deadline
The resort is in the middle of a major expansion worth 53.2 billion tenge, financed entirely through private investment. Completion is scheduled for 2028, with expected capacity increases, service improvements, and up to 1,200 new jobs.
Right now Oi-Qaragai runs 28 kilometers of ski runs across multiple sections, served by 11 lifts. Off the slopes there is a zipline, tubing, horseback riding, and what is described as Central Asia’s largest bike park, which is a big part of why it can operate beyond winter.
The regional picture supports that bet. The Almaty region welcomed 658,000 tourists in 2025 and is positioning itself as a mountain and ecotourism destination. Kazakhstan’s tourism authorities treat resort modernization and year-round destination development as key priorities for expanding both domestic and inbound tourism.
Here is the practical takeaway. If you are a Kazakh citizen planning a ski day near Almaty, bring your identity documents and buy at the ticket office, because that is the only way to get the Otan price. The bigger changes land by 2028. And after Moscow, this resort is already being measured against the best in the region, as reported by Qazinform and Kazakh business media.