TODAY.AZ / Business

Azerbaijan eager to attract tourists from Kazakhstan

06 February 2017 [14:26] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews


By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, the two friendly and Turkic-speaking countries, may jointly develop their tourism potential.

The issue was mulled at a meeting between Azerbaijani Ambassador to Kazakhstan Rashad Mammadov and Director of Kazakhstan Tourism Industry Department Marat Igaliyev.

The sides proposed developing joint tourism packages for foreign tourists. Mammadov said tourism authorities and agencies in both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan could cooperate in preparing tourism packages to increase the flow of foreign tourists.

The ambassador highlighted Azerbaijan`s accomplishments in tourism industry, including the establishment of state-of-the-art infrastructure and promotional campaigns.

Mammadov also pointed to growth in the number of Kazakh tourists visiting Azerbaijan.

“The tourist flow from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan saw a 14.8 percent increase in 2016,” the ambassador said, adding that Azerbaijani is ready for cooperation to boost the flow of Azerbaijani tourists to Kazakhstan.

Igaliyev welcomed the ambassador`s proposal to develop joint tourism packages for foreign tourists.

He praised ongoing development processes in Azerbaijan, describing Baku as one of the most attractive cities in the world.

Igaliyev voiced Kazakhstan’s interest in studying Azerbaijan`s experience in developing tourism industry. He also hailed the introduction of ASAN visa system in Azerbaijan, saying Kazakhstan will consider the opportunities of applying this system.

The sides also discussed issues of attracting tourists to EXPO-2017 exhibition in Astana.

“Azerbaijan is interested in attracting tourists visiting Astana also to Azerbaijan. In turn, they are also willing to redirect tourists from their country to Kazakhstan,” Igaliyev wrote in his Facebook account.

The two countries also have sister cities. Azerbaijan’s Sumgayit and Kazakhstan’s Aktau are twin towns since 2009. Almaty-Baku flights started as a seasonal charter flights provider in 2009. Astana-Baku flight was launched due to the increase in demand among business in 2012.

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are two Caspian states which are united by not only the Sea, but a number of things ranging from the cultural and linguistic proximity to a number of strategic initiatives and projects. 

Brotherly relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, huge resource of two countries, sea borders, diasporas, geostrategic position of the states on the historical “Silk Way” are main driving forces of the further development of two countries’ economic relations.

Today, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are more interested in intensification of cooperation in other areas, particularly logistics and infrastructure.  Necessary measures are taken to better utilize the opportunity driven from the passage of shortest East-West transport corridor through the territories of the countries.

Currently energy and other goods produced in Kazakhstan are carried to Europe by different means of transport through Azerbaijan. Additionally, the commissioning of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will serve further development of cooperation on this field and increase importance of the two countries as transit corridor.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/business/158361.html

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