Table of contents introduction

5.2. Tourism Industry

The continuous support measures provided by the state for the development of tourism are yielding positive results, and the number of tourists visiting our country is growing every year

The work done to develop the non-oil sector in our country is also reflected in the field of tourism. Thanks to the attention and care of President Ilham Aliyev, tourism is becoming a leading sector of the country's economy. Thus, the measures taken in recent years to expand the tourism infrastructure give impetus to the development of tourism in Azerbaijan. According to the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated April 20, 2018 "On some measures to improve public administration in the field of culture and tourism", the establishment of the State Tourism Agency (DTA) gave impetus to these activities to intensify and expand.

While assessing the tourism potential of Azerbaijan, it should be noted that Azerbaijan has rich resources for the development of the tourism industry, a favorable economic and geographical position. Thus, air and sea transportation, highways and transport routes connecting Europe with the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia pass through our country. At the same time, Azerbaijan is a country with unique natural and climatic features, its fauna and flora are much richer than in other republics of the Caucasus. The diversity of Azerbaijani flora amazes tourists visiting our country for the first time.

More than 1,200 large and small rivers flow in Azerbaijan. Rivers flowing from the southern foothills of the Greater Caucasus, numerous waterfalls, clear Goygol, Maralgol, hard and at the same time picturesque mud volcanoes of Gobustan, rare nature reserves of Lankaran, pomegranate sandy beaches of Absheron and Nabran regions are important components of Azerbaijan's rich tourism potential. Our country also has mineral water resources with different chemical compositions. The mineral waters of Istisu in the occupied Kalbajar region, Badamli, Sirab and Vaykhir in Nakhchivan are famous far away from the republic. Surakhani and Shikh in the Absheron Peninsula, Galaalti in the Devechi region, and Turshsu in the Julfa region are mineral waters that differ in their therapeutic value. Thermal springs predominate in the Talysh mountains and on the southern and north-eastern slopes of the Greater Caucasus.

Azerbaijan is compared to Italy, Spain and Greece in the number of sunny days a year. There are all prerequisites for the complete transformation of the Caspian coast into a recreation area.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan is a country with a rich history and ancient culture. There are more than 6,000 historical and architectural monuments in our country. Most of them are located on the ancient caravan routes along the Great Silk Road through the territory of Azerbaijan, and even today they are amazing. Examples of these monuments are the rock paintings of primitive people in the caves of Gobustan, fire-worshiping temples, towers, Albanian churches and shrines at the top of the mountains, magnificent castle walls and castles, as well as large caravanserais, magnificent palaces and mosques of the Islamic culture.

State reserves and national parks with tourism potential play an important role in promoting our country

The State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan implements the state policy in the field of tourism, as well as in the field of protection of historical and cultural monuments located in the territories of state reserves under its jurisdiction. For this purpose, numerous DTA Tourism Information Centers have been established in the relevant regions of Azerbaijan. Numerous future specialists are being trained at the educational institutions included in the DTA - Azerbaijan University of Tourism and Management, Baku Tourism Vocational School and Mingachevir Tourism College.

The Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau (ATB) has been established under the DTA with the main goal of strengthening the country's competitiveness in the global tourism market and increasing the level of recognition of Azerbaijan as a tourist destination by forming the tourism brand of Azerbaijan and promoting it locally and internationally.

In addition, the Center for the Management of Reserves, which is part of the DTA, provides for the scientific, historical and cultural study, promotion, preservation, development of elements, monuments of historical, tangible and intangible cultural heritage located in the territories of state reserves, increasing the tourism potential of reserves. operates in the field.

The center includes the following reserves: Yanardag State Historical-Cultural and Natural Reserve, Ateshgah Temple State Historical-Architectural Reserve, Basgal State Historical-Cultural Reserve, Khinalig State Historical-Architectural and Ethnographic Reserve, Lahij State Historical-Cultural Reserve, “Yukhari Bash” State Historical-Architectural Reserve (including “Caravanserai” Hotel Complex in Sheki), “Kish” Historical-Architectural Reserve. Shahdag Tourism Center Closed Joint-Stock Company is a separate part of DTA.

It should be noted that national parks also play an important role in promoting our country, which has tourism potential. There are 10 national parks in Azerbaijan: Zangazur, Shirvan, Aggol, Hirkan, Altiagaj, Absheron, Shahdag, Goygol, Samur-Yalama and Gizilagaj.

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation makes a significant contribution to the creation of a new tourism infrastructure

Restoration of historical, religious and cultural monuments in our country occupies an important place in state policy. Thanks to the attention of President Ilham Aliyev, great work has been done to repair, restore and reconstruct such facilities. Thus, according to the order signed by the President, the adaptation of the Yanardag State Historical-Cultural and Nature Reserve to modern standards and the creation of a new tourism infrastructure on its territory demonstrate the consistency of the work done. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, headed by First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, also makes a significant contribution to the work carried out in this direction.

In addition, in terms of attracting tourists, the adaptation of the "Volcano" Reserve to modern standards plays an important role. The opening of the overhauled and restored Yanardag Reserve took place on June 12, 2019 with the participation of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva. The reserve includes "Yanardag" - a natural monument of eternal flame, caves of the early primitive community called "Wolf's Nest", therapeutic sulfur springs, the still active Kirmaki mud volcano, Alidashi Piri, Kardashi large natural rocks, Girmaki , belongs to the ancient mound.

It should be noted that there are ample opportunities for the development of health tourism, which is one of the most important areas for our country. In recent years, new treatment complexes have been established in this area in accordance with modern standards, the existing tourism infrastructure has been updated and overhauled. The measures taken in this direction are aimed at demonstrating the existing potential, real opportunities and prospects of the country in the field of health tourism, as well as attracting foreign and domestic investment in this field, as well as achieving a new influx of tourists to the country.

By the way, great work has been done in recent years to restore the former tourism potential of Naftalan. Beautiful hotels, resorts and sanatoriums, which were restored or rebuilt in a short time, have turned this small city into one of the tourist centers not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the world.

The increase in the activity of small and medium-sized businesses in the field of health tourism contributes to the development of this field in our country. It should be noted that the development of entrepreneurship in the field of tourism, the promotion of tourism clustering is one of the priorities of the State Tourism Agency.

Large-scale propaganda and marketing work is being carried out to convey Azerbaijan's tourism potential to an international audience

It is gratifying that as a manifestation of the state's attention and care for tourism, our country has become a place chosen by travel enthusiasts as a new tourist destination in the world. In accordance with the purposeful policy pursued, the organization of international sports competitions and events in recent years, in general, as a result of promoting the flow of tourists to Azerbaijan, creates conditions for the tourism sector to become a more profitable sector.

It should be noted that over the past period, state support for tourism has been strengthened by eliminating the requirement for a license for entrepreneurial activity in the tourism sector, creating a favorable business and investment environment for entrepreneurs. The main goal here is to achieve long-term sustainable economic development and more effective use of the tourism potential of the regions. The implementation of these goals is the basis of the activities of the Destination Management Organization (DMO) established by the DTA. We are confident that the organization will play an important role in promoting the tourism potential of the regions of Azerbaijan, attracting more tourists and the successful development of the regions. Although the main task of the WTO is to promote and encourage Azerbaijan as a tourism destination, another task is to establish contacts between tourism representatives in the private, public and community sectors.

Today, tourism is one of the main areas of economic development and income around the world. From this point of view, the organization of large-scale propaganda and marketing events is of special importance in conveying the tourism potential of the regions of Azerbaijan to international audiences abroad. The Azerbaijan Congress Bureau under the DTA also organizes events to promote tourism. The purpose of the awareness-raising trainings conducted by the Azerbaijan Congress Bureau for active participants in the industry on the development of business tourism in the country is to promote the country's business tourism potential.

In general, as a result of comprehensive measures taken in the field of tourism and reforms, the number of tourists visiting our country is growing. Events such as "tax free", "e-Visa", the establishment of DTA offices abroad, the first Trade Festival in Baku and the tourism calendar are important within the "Strategic Roadmap for the development of the specialized tourism industry in the Republic of Azerbaijan."

Thus, Azerbaijan, which in recent years has chosen to achieve further development of the non-oil economy as its main goal, is trying to make more efficient use of its rich tourism potential in all regions. For this purpose, the necessary infrastructure is being built along all tourist routes, the number of hotels and other facilities is being increased, measures are being taken to improve the level of service, entry and exit rules are being simplified, and the tourism potential of the Azerbaijani capital and regions is being promoted abroad. In this case, it can be said unequivocally that the measures taken by the state to support the development of tourism in Azerbaijan are yielding positive results, and the number of tourists visiting our country is growing every year.