FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN INNOVATIVE ECOSYSTEM IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY

The article examines the problems of the formation and development of an innovation ecosystem in the tourism industry in the Republic of Kazakhstan with the aim of developing practical recommendations for filling gaps in the areas under study. The identified issues are of high relevance and importance for Kazakhstan, since the innovation ecosystem is a set of relationships associated with the development, dissemination and use of scientific innovations in business tourism practice. In light of the above, using an integrated approach including an extensive literature review and statistical data analysis method, the study assesses the current state of development of the innovation ecosystem in the tourism industry of Kazakhstan, identifying areas for increasing the involvement of the tourism industry in the innovation process. The article analyzes the innovative development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the trajectory of Kazakhstan's ranking in the Global Innovation Index over the past 15 years, as well as factors contributing to the effective development of the innovation ecosystem. The study shows the lack of involvement of the tourism industry in Kazakhstan in the innovation process and the low level of innovation activity in this industry, while some of the key problems include limited funding, lack of qualified personnel, insufficient infrastructure, and lack of network connections. The authors identified the key elements and parameters of a successful innovation ecosystem, and justified the need for the formation and development of an innovation ecosystem in tourism, which is formed at various levels depending on the assigned tasks and available potential opportunities.