Museums play a crucial role in preserving and promoting historical and cultural heritage. However, under current economic conditions, their effective operation depends not only on state support but also on concrete mechanisms that ensure financial sustainability. In this regard, the Culture Committee of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan has revised the paid service fees of 36 institutions under its jurisdiction, including the “Azret Sultan” National Historical and Cultural Reserve-Museum.

As is known, the “Azret Sultan” National Historical and Cultural Reserve-Museum is a Republican State Treasury Enterprise and the main institution serving visitors in the spiritual capital of the country. Despite the steady increase in the number of visitors and the growing scope of museum activities, the service fees had remained unchanged in recent years.

According to Article 140 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On State Property” adopted in 2011, the activities of state treasury enterprises must be funded not only through the state budget but also from their own income sources. In accordance with Order No. 354 issued by the Ministry of Culture and Sports in 2015, the income from paid services at the “Azret Sultan” Reserve-Museum must amount to at least 30% of the annual expenditure.

Currently, the museum offers a wide range of paid services, including guided tours, audio guides, photo and video shooting, historical and cultural assessments, paid lectures, educational quests, trainings, and various scientific and cultural events. Revenue from these services is used to upgrade the museum’s material and technical resources, as well as to implement research and cultural-educational projects.

Until now, the pricing of these services has been significantly lower compared to neighboring countries. For instance, admission to the Samarkand Museum in Uzbekistan costs around 1,640 KZT for foreign visitors, while tickets to the Kremlin Museum in Moscow can reach up to 7,414 KZT. In Kyrgyzstan, admission to the State Museum exceeds 1,200 KZT. In comparison, museum entrance fees in Kazakhstan have been several times cheaper than in other CIS countries.

Another important factor is inflation. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, consumer goods and service prices in Kazakhstan increased 2.6 times between 2015 and 2025. Meanwhile, the costs of museum maintenance have risen by approximately 4.6 times.

In light of this, under Order No. 307-NҚ issued on July 4, 2025, by the Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On setting prices for goods (works, services) produced and sold by Republican State Treasury Enterprises under the Ministry of Culture and Information”, the updated ticket prices for entry to the reserve-museum are as follows:

For citizens of Kazakhstan: 300–1000 KZT

For foreign visitors: 1500–2000 KZT

For group excursions: 1000–5000 KZT

The change in pricing is not intended to burden visitors, but rather to improve service quality and enhance the effectiveness of cultural heritage preservation. The sustainable development of museums is essential for promoting tourism and passing spiritual values on to future generations. This is the demand of our time.