More travelers choose Azerbaijan

By Azernews

By Amina Nazarli

A sharp jump in tourists flow to Azerbaijan cannot but rejoice both the economy and the inhabitants of the country.

Hotels, restaurants, recreation areas, and shopping centers filled up with foreigners and this shows the interest of tourists in a newly chosen destination.

In the last two years Azerbaijan has received most part of all tourists from Arab countries, who enjoy the mixed style of the capital, feeling themselves simultaneously on the East and Europe.

Mahir Gahramanov, Head of Department at the Culture and Tourism Ministry, said that the number of tourists arriving in Azerbaijan from Jordan increased by 2 times in 2016 compared to 2015, while from Kuwait by 3.2 times, from Qatar by 5.5 times, from Saudi Arabia and Oman by 10 times, from UAE by 22 times, from Iraq by 30 times.

He made the remarks at the event on "Tourism excursion services. Halal management system. Hotels” held on April 25.

Given the wonderful climate of Azerbaijan, its culture, cuisine, nature, attractions, and diversity, the number tourists from Arab countries into the country increased significantly. The tourists mainly choose the most popular destinations – Baku, Gabala, Quba and many other cities.

The government takes a series of necessary measures to make the country a favorite tourist destination.

“The introduction of a simplified visa system for the countries of the Persian Gulf, China, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore has positively affected the flow of tourists. There is a growth in tourist flow from the Muslim countries. For instance, the number of tourists from Iran has also doubled in three months of 2017 compared to the same period of 2016," he said.

Today, the country can accommodate about 40,000 tourists in its 535 hotels, which include a series of luxury hotels – Excelsior, Hilton, Four Seasons, Fairmont, JW Marriott, Kempinski – as well as several budget hotels for cost-conscious travelers.   

Some 25 hostels and 92 apartments for tourists operate in Baku, adding that all these facilities are private.

However, the growth of tourism in Azerbaijan and increasing number of tourists has encouraged construction of new hotels across the country.

Gahramanov said that 140,000 bedrooms are not enough and their number should be increased.

Application of halal standards in hotels is voluntary for the countries.

“There are some Muslim tourists, who want to stay away from the environment they have in their homeland. However, 70 percent of them want to feel themselves in a familiar environment. That’s why we should become more attractive. And creation of halal standards is one of these ways,” he said.  

The number of Iranian citizens, who visited Azerbaijan during Novruz holiday in 2016 increased by 35-40 percent, compared to 2015. Alongside the capital city Baku, Iranian tourists also travel different regions such as Lankaran, Lerik, Masalli, Gabala and Sheki.

Tourism in Azerbaijan has a thousand-year tradition. To make sure it is enough to remember the Great Silk Road, which contributed to not only commercial, but also cultural exchange. A special surge of interest in the country located on the Caspian Sea shore, however, arose during the era of hydrocarbon resources.

Situated on the Great Silk Road, and divided partially between Eastern Europe and Western Asia, Azerbaijan blended the best from both cultures, forming its own unique rich culture, that’s why its people are neither totally Eastern, nor totally Western.

Azerbaijan has shown high growth rates in Europe on three main creation used in hotel business efficiency. It was mentioned in the article entitled "Europe's hotel industry has shown growth in the first quarter of 2017" published on the portal publituris.pt of Portugal. The hotel business is measured by the booking, the room rate, revenues, and price criteria.

With one of the world’s most improved economies in 2017 and rising 13 spots in the World Economic Forum’s global ranking, Azerbaijan's capital saw massive improvements in hotel performance in the first quarter of the year, according to the STR analytic company.

Exchange rate fluctuations made the destination cheaper for many international visitors, the portal said. STR analysts note the performance growth is particularly impressive considering the market experienced significant supply growth of 18.1 percent in 2015 and 6.8 percent in 2016.