Purpose of the research – to assess the current state of ecotourism in the Ile-Alatau National Park, including an analysis of the material and technical base of tourism in the park and the existing regulatory systems.

Methodology – SWOT analysis, synthesis, analysis, deduction, comparison were used as the main research tools. The originality (value) of the study is an objective assessment of the current state of ecological tourism, in particular, tours to protected areas, in Kazakhstan and the United States of America (USA), as a foreign example, which allows creating a basis for the formation of effective methods of organizing and developing tourism in national parks.

Originality / value. The theoretical significance of the study is to identify the most effective methodology for assessing and regulating natural and recreational resources of the Ile-Alatau National Park for the development of ecological tourism. The practical significance of the project is to develop an effective system for the creation, improvement and promotion of the domestic ecological tourism product and, subsequently, to increase its competitiveness in the global tourism market.

Findings – Analyzing the unique natural resources of the Almaty region, the authors justify its high potential for the development of inbound and domestic tourism. Based on the contrast with the United States of America, the authors have estimated the material and technical base of tourism in the Ile-Alatau National Park. The authors give several recommendations for improving the current program for the development of ecological tourism.