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Can you share some insights on the tourism potential of Azerbaijan. Please highlight the reasons that make Azerbaijan a great destination for the residents of the Gulf Region.
A strategically important nation in the Caucasus, Azerbaijan has imbibed the cultural ethos of ancient historical empires including Russian, Turkish and Persian. Located on the crossroads between Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan is a land of rich cultural and historical heritage. Once an important part of the former Soviet Empire, today, it is going through a critical phase of cultural and economic transformation. The petroleum industry in Azerbaijan has given the country a new sense of optimism and enhanced economic prospects.
Azerbaijan has incredible diversity to offer, as on hand its capital Baku is a dynamic town with all the trappings of a cosmopolitan lifestyle which on the other hand there is picturesque countryside where one finds undisturbed, vast lands of Azeri culture and one of Eurasia’s best-kept scenery secrets.
Nature has historically been a cornerstone of the Azeri tourism appeal as the land is blessed with fragile, pristine, and relatively undisturbed destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions.
Whether on horseback, by car, bus or train; traveling from Astara to Zaqatala or from Baku to Balakan to Batabat; Azerbaijan is full of ancient monuments, natural attractions, and wild game and ecological sites. The Greater and Lesser Caucasus, and the Talish Mountains cover well over half of Azerbaijan, offering visitors spectacular scenery and varied landscapes, as well as key biological diversities. With high end tourism infrastructure, unique tourism attractions such as Gobustan, Mud Volcanoes, burning Mountain and proximity and flight connectivity from GCC countries, Azarbaijan is a great destination for tourism.
Azerbaijan has become one of the most important destinations for conferences in Central Asia. How has this facilitated tourism in the region
Azerbaijan’s unique location at the crossroads of East and West and its rich historical and cultural heritage combined with modern infrastructure and heartfelt hospitality all positively contribute to its appeal as a destination. Along with excellent air accessibility, world class conference facilities and high quality hotels to accommodate events of different size and scale, unique dining venues and authentic on-site activities Azerbaijan has become an ideal destination for conferences in Central Asia
What are the most prominent conferences and events organized in Azerbaijan? What’s their annual growth rate?
Azerbaijan welcomes a large number of exhibitors every year and event organizers have forecasted 15% growth of their exhibitions in the region.
AITF (Azerbaijan International Travel and Tourism Fair), Transcaspian – International Transport, Transit and Logistic exhibition, Worldfood, Caspian Oil and Gas – International Oil and Gas exhibition, BIHE – International Healthcare exhibition, Bakubuild – International Construction exhibition have become immensely popular and attract exhibitors and visitors from across the globe.
We are proud to host The First European Olympic Games this summer from 12 to 28 June in Baku, involving more than 6,000 athletes from the National Olympic Committees of Europe. This event is expected to be the largest sporting event in Azerbaijan’s history. Baku has also been elected as the host city of The Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017.
What are the main tourist destinations in Azerbaijan? Please share some insights regarding hotel, leisure and business centers options available in the major cities?
The capital of Azerbaijan – Baku, is the largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. At night, Baku looks spectacular with all the buildings lite up including the city’s diamond – the new Crystal Hall, The spectacular Flame Towers, whose facades are turned into gigantic display screens with the use of more than 10,000 high-power LED luminaires. A walking tour of the Old Town ‘Icheri Shekher’ shows the traditions of Azerbaijan. Many ancient architectural treasures still stand tall such as the Maiden Tower and Palace of the Shirvanshahs in the walled City of Baku. These monuments built in the 12th-15th century are inscribed under the UNESCO World Heritage list of historical monuments. Within this walled city, tourists can enjoy shopping for traditional artifacts or enjoy a meal at restaurants which are run within the historical buildings. With regards to temperature, Baku has a subtropical semi-arid climate with dry summers with temperature is between +25 and +35 C, mild- cold and occasionally wet winters with temperature between +15 and 0.
Gabala, which is also called the “Azerbaijani Switzerland”, is considered a popular tourist destination as it combines good climate, natural beauty and modern infrastructure. Gabala (or Qabala) is the most ancient city of Azerbaijan and the capital of the Gabala Region. It has existed for over 1800 years. Ruins of the ancient town are in 15 km from regional center. One can explore all 4 seasons in Gabala.
The other famous cities of Azerbaijan include Nakhchivan, Lankaran, Ganja, Naftalan, and Sheki.
Do the tourism programs suit the requirements of the residents of the UAE and Gulf region?
Yes, the representation office of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan for GCC Countries designs packages and campaigns to promote Azerbaijan Tourism. Atlantis Holidays a prominent Travel management company in UAE is the appointed representation office for the region. We welcome and support every initiative to make Azerbaijan destination a preferable tourism spot for GCC travelers.
