Abstract
Public private partnerships (PPPs) can facilitate tourism development, yet their success is often undermined by complex power dynamics, particularly in transitional economies. This study investigates the impediments of tourism PPPs in the post-Soviet context of Kazakhstan. Using 27 semi-structured stakeholder interviews and abductive thematic analysis, the study maps the landscape of power and collaboration, revealing a structurally rooted concentration of power within state institutions. This power imbalance marginalizes private actors and impedes effective partnership, resulting in distrust, asymmetrical information sharing, and the dual-edged role of informal networks (“svyazi”). The study contributes to knowledge by demonstrating the complex power dynamics unique to the tourism sector of a transitional economy. It proposes a multi-level action framework to address the strategic, tactical, and operational challenges in tourism PPPs, outlining a pathway toward their more effective implementation in societies with weak institutions.