Dana Abdykhanovna Alimbekova
Senior Lecturer, Master of Social Sciences, expert practitioner in international and domestic tourism and diplomatic communications
Dana Abdykhanovna is a specialist combining a strong academic background with over 21 years of experience in the public sector, diplomatic missions, and international business. Her professional career covers key aspects of tourism development in Kazakhstan—from the design of state strategies and regulatory initiatives to their implementation, international promotion, and building sustainable partnerships with foreign organizations and investors.
Education and Qualifications
Master’s Degree — L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Master of Social Sciences (scientific and pedagogical track).
Bachelor’s Degree — Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, International Tourism, qualification: Manager.
Widely recognized at national and international levels: recipient of numerous letters of appreciation from regional Akimats, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan, and other institutions; laureate of the “Star of Tourism of Kazakhstan” award.
Holds an extensive portfolio of professional certificates and regularly upgrades qualifications through leading institutions, including:
Association of Higher Education Institutions of Kazakhstan, Turan-Astana University, Eurasian Accreditation Agency, Moscow State Linguistic University, Vladimir State University, Chuvash State University, “Turistik Qamqor” Foundation, and other international industry platforms.
Has significant international field experience across key destinations such as Egypt, Turkey, UAE, Qatar, Thailand, Maldives, Vietnam, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Russia, North Macedonia, and other countries in Europe and Asia. Awarded “Destination Expert” status by international tour operators and companies.
Teaching and Research Activity
- Author of more than 15 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals in Kazakhstan and abroad
- Speaker at international conferences in Tokyo, Brussels, Boston, and Bilbao
- Developer of teaching methodologies integrating digital tools and international case studies
- Organizer and curator of student internships and training programs in more than 8 countries (Germany, Turkey, Spain, China, etc.)
Business Expert — General Director of LLP “DS Travel” (international and domestic tourism).
Diplomacy and Protocol — Worked as Assistant to the Ambassador of a European country in Kazakhstan and as Head of Protocol Service in a national company.
Public Administration — Extensive experience in the tourism sector and government service.
Served as Head of the Tourism Department at the Akimat of Astana, overseeing urban tourism development, promotion of the capital’s tourism potential, and stakeholder engagement.
At the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan, progressed from expert to Head of Department, contributing to state programs, strategic initiatives, interagency coordination, and international promotion of Kazakhstan as a туристic destination.
International Projects — Worked as an International Project Manager at the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute (KCTI) in Seoul, South Korea.
Also served as a visiting lecturer at Seoul National University (SNU), where she developed a teaching and methodological program on tourism destinations for students in South Korea.