Eurasian Alliance of Mountain Resorts Announces Key Innovations for the New Season

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Eurasian Alliance of Mountain Resorts (EAMR), which brings together leading ski complexes in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Russia, presented its updated winter season program at the TITF-2025 exhibition.

The highlights include expanded international cooperation, the introduction of new digital services, and large-scale infrastructure development across the member resorts.

One of the major announcements was a strategic partnership with the European network Grandvalira Resorts in Andorra.

Under the agreement, holders of season passes from EAMR resorts will be able to ski for five days free of charge at the Andorran resorts. In turn, Grandvalira pass holders will be able to visit the alliance’s slopes in Central Asia and Russia under similar terms.

Access will be provided through existing plastic cards using the Axess system—without queues or visits to ticket offices.

Another new initiative is a program allowing EAMR guests to ski for free when staying at recommended hotels.

The alliance expects this model to encourage travelers to explore new destinations and become the foundation for developing an Interstate Tourist Route.

Among the key events of the upcoming season is the third Mountain Resorts Festival, which will take place in Almaty from 23 to 27 February 2026.

The festival will bring together the Eurasian Mountain Tourism Development Forum, the CIS Open Championship for Instructors, training programs, and cultural activities.

Individual alliance resorts also announced their own updates. Russia’s Rosa Khutor presented 105 kilometers of slopes and introduced the Yeti Coach system featuring elements of artificial intelligence for analyzing skiing technique.

Kazakhstan’s Shymbulak is expanding in the premium segment, creating a ski village and opening a new snow park. Oi-Qaragai is enlarging its territory with a new zone on the Aktas plateau, featuring six slopes, a gondola lift, and modern tourist spaces.

Uzbekistan’s Amirsoy continues to develop its year-round recreation ecosystem and is preparing to host the Asian Children’s Ski Championships in March 2026. Azerbaijan’s Shahdag has increased its skiable terrain to 45 kilometers, opened the Lakeside Hotel, and launched the country’s first FIS-certified stadium, allowing it to host high-level international competitions.

The EAMR was established in 2023 by the resorts Rosa Khutor, Shymbulak, and Amirsoy. Shahdag and Kazakhstan’s Oi-Qaragai later joined the alliance. The organization aims to promote year-round mountain tourism, facilitate the exchange of expertise, and develop unified safety standards.

The alliance is headquartered in Almaty. The South Korean resort Mona YongPyong has held candidate status for membership since 2024.