The famous Maryin Cliff, featured in the cult Soviet film 'Shadows Disappear at Noon', is becoming a new tourist destination in East Kazakhstan. Located in the border town of Shemonaiha, birthplace of writer Anatoly Ivanov, local authorities are leveraging the area's literary heritage to boost tourism.
Tourism in the district has been largely undeveloped, but the situation is changing. Improvements include asphalt roads, paving stones, and a viewing area at the cliff. A monument to the film's heroine, Marya Voronova, now welcomes thousands of visitors.
Small businesses have followed the improvements, with yurts appearing at the foot of the cliff and the old hotel in the district centre undergoing major renovation. Under the Auyl Amanaty programme, local residents have taken concessional microloans. Event tourism is growing, including jeep tours, the annual Uba Open Fest, and rafting trips.
Since the beginning of the year, businesses and the government have invested nearly 10 billion tenge in the region's hospitality sector. More than 400 recreation facilities are now operating. Renovated mountain roads and a new bridge have made resorts accessible even during the off-season.
For travellers, this means a new destination in East Kazakhstan with improved infrastructure and unique attractions, offering an alternative to more established resorts in the region.
