Abstract
Little is known about sustainable tourism transformations in post-Soviet countries. This particularly concerns the former Soviet Union Republics where no research has attempted to assess how/if the principles of sustainability have been embedded into destination management plans and policies (DMPPs). This study has critically evaluated the scope for integration of sustainable tourism in DMPPs in Kazakhstan, a former post-Soviet country in Central Asia. By interviewing key tourism stakeholders, the study has shown limited embracement of the principles of sustainability. The lack of-(1) an understanding of the sustainability concept by the national government, destination managers and industry practitioners; (2) subject-specific expertise in managing sustainable tourism projects; (3) community engagement in sustainable tourism planning and development; and (4) stakeholder collaboration-has been identified as the prime reason. A multi-level, multi-stakeholder action framework is proposed to aid the tourism industry of Kazakhstan in its advancement towards the sustainable (tourism) development goal.