ABSTRACT
This study is based on an understanding of the state of development of small tourism businesses in Almaty, one of the oldest settlements located along the Great Silk Road. The aim of the study was to obtain accurate data on the current state of development of small tourism businesses in Almaty and to identify problems and prospects. In the course of the research, 655 questionnaire responses from business owners and managers meeting the selection criteria were selected and rigorously monitored over a period of 3 months. As a result of the study, the most important problems of small tourism businesses in Almaty were identified, which include: 75.7% of respondents lacked knowledge about tourism activities;53.6% of entrepreneurs do not conclude contracts with employees;82% of business representatives do not have marketing plans;and, as a consequence, inability to obtain loans from banks;and the consequences of the war in Ukraine. However, we also saw some positive trends in the survey: the willingness of respondents to overcome the consequences and the crisis of the covid pandemic-19;motivation to develop their own business;28.7% of young entrepreneurs;74.7% of individual entrepreneurs invest in small tourism businesses. Thus, this study is an auxiliary tool for solving the problem of sustainable development of tourism infrastructure of Almaty, service activities, problems arising in small tourism business.