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explore something new and interesting for themselves”
(Nomadic Travel
Kazakhstan, 2012).
PERFORMATIVE SPACES AND THE POLITICS OF CULTURAL
SITES
According to the main stakeholders involved in the development of eco-
cultural tours, the notions of ecocultural tourism and authenticity have a
real meaning together as most of the villages in Central Kazakhstan are
still looking the same as they were since the 1930s. On the contrary to
some open-air museums developed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport
of Kazakhstan in the region of Balkash Lake and Burabai (Baravoie), lo-
cal villages that are part of the 'Kyzylarai' tour are perceived as authen-
tic either from the home-stay providers or the tour operator “Nomadic
Travel Kazakhstan” points of views. The local populations “have man-
aged to preserve skills of producing articles out of felt and numerous na-
tional fermented milk products: 'kumyz,' 'shubat' and 'kurt'” (Nomadic
Travel Kazakhstan, 2012). In particular, some of the home-stay providers
are highlighting the fact that more yurts (mobile dwellings from nomadic
times known as gers in Mongolia) should be set in the steppes as they
are matching some of the visitor's expectations when traveling in Central
Kazakhstan. The visitors' stay in the guest houses sharing a 'nomadic life-
style' and interacting with the local population is strongly participating in
the authenticity of their tourism experiences.
The researchers looked at different dimensions of authenticity experi-
enced by local and international visitors regarding traditional Kazakhstani
nomadic food (ingredients, links to the past, as well as new food tradi-
tions) made available to the tourists during the 'Kyzylarai' tour. According
to the tourism operators interviewed, the experiential part of the tourist
experience can be found in the sharing of traditional meals ('beshbarmak,'
'kuyrdak') based on horse meat and prepared by the host people which
are the same since generations as well as being able to witness traditional
games like horses festivals and hunting during the feasts periods. When
mentioning
'understand you can find happiness from simple things'
in the
'Ecotourism Resources of Kazakhstan' brochure, the official Kazakhstan
Tourism Association (KTA) welcomes visitors to experientially partici-
pate and share the life of the local populations during the 'Kyzylarai' tour.
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