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Minister: New strategy of tourism development in Azerbaijan

27 September 2016 [17:20] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews


By Rashid Shirinov

A new strategy on development of tourism is being elaborated in Azerbaijan. There are a number of projects prepared for the development of this sector, and these documents will soon be submitted for consideration to Parliament, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfas Garayev told journalists on September 27.

“Tourism has become a priority area for the country. Coordination of state structures’ activities to form a common approach to the development of tourism is already bearing fruit. Simplification of the visa regime with several countries, in particular with the Persian Gulf states, has led to an increase in the number of arriving tourists,” the Minister said.

Since the beginning of the year, the flow of Arab tourists to Azerbaijan has increased eight times as compared to compared to last year's statistics. There is also an increase of the tourist flow from Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan.

Garayev noted that opening of new travel agencies abroad and new flights in cooperation with AZAL are also expected.

Domestic tourism develops in the country as well, the minister said. For the first half of this year, the number of bookings in regional hotels increased by 23.5 percent, and rooms in many regional hotels were fully reserved.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev had previously signed an order on additional measures related to the development of tourism in Azerbaijan. According to the order, the Council for Tourism of Azerbaijan will be created.

The main aim of the Council will be analysis of current situation in the industry and taking appropriate actions to resolve issues in this area, as well as inter-agency coordination of tasks in tourism, entrusted to the different public bodies.

The Council may engage independent experts and professionals in its activities, as well as to create working groups based on international best practices.

The Cabinet of Ministers together with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Ministry of Education will take action on creation of first special educational institutions (professional technical schools and lyceums) in tourist and recreational zones. The institutions will be created at the Azerbaijan University of Tourism and Management and the Cabinet of Ministers will allocate relevant lands and real estate for that purpose.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/business/154583.html

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