About 80 travel agency and media representatives gathered in Beijing for a promotion event by Air Astana to get to know about the airline and the tourism resources of Kazakhstan.

Launched in 2001, the airline currently operates direct flights from Beijing and Urumqi to Kazakhstan. The flights between Beijing and Almaty will be increased from five to seven per week from Sept 1, and those between Beijing and Astana will be increased from three to four per week from June 1.

Meanwhile, for $75, passengers can enjoy a pick-up, sightseeing and one night at a hotel at Almaty and Astana.

Separately, as the official air carrier of Expo 2017 that will be held in Astana, the airline offers a free entrance ticket to the expo for those who arrive or transfer at Astana by an international flight between June 1 and Sept 10. One can apply for the ticket on its official website.

According to Wang Shu, the sales manager of the airline's Beijing office, Chinese tourists who want to visit the country have to apply for visas from authorized travel agencies. The fee is $20 per person.

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