Progress in tourism

As a result of implementation of the “State Program on the development of tourism in the Azerbaijan Republic for 2002-2005”, favourable conditions were created for the development of the tourism and the foundation laid for the integration of our country with the international tourist market. The rapid social-economic growth obtained over the last years provided new opportunities for the all-round development of this field. 

While in 2002 the state economy benefited from the tourists visited our country to the amount of 432,000,000 manats in 2009 the figure increased for 122,000,000 manats.  

Every year the foundations of 25-50 new hotels, motels and other entities for accomodating tourist are laid in Azerbaijan. At present the construction of about 50 hotels are under progress. In comparison with 2002 the number of accommodating agencies increased 3 times. Especially, businessmen showed great interest in tourism during 2002-2003. At that time there were only 32 travel agencies but now their number is 123. When licencing was launched, only 40-50 hotels obtained the licence. But today about 300 hotels obtained licence and the documents of 20 more hotels are under consideration. 

The main problem the tourist industry of the country faces is the improvement of the level of travel services. The issue was reflected in the State Program. The only institution of higher education training tourism - Azerbaijan Tourism Institute was established in Azerbaijan in 2006 under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Azerbaijan Republic by the Decree of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev numbered 925 dated August 25, 2006 and the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Republic numbered 45 dated February 13, 2006.  

Generally over the last 2 years the number of tourists visited our country increased up to 14 %. This high index was recorded by World Tourism Organization. In spite that the world tourism undergoes crisis and difficulties Azerbaijan reached high rate of tourists.

The President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev with his Order dated April 6, 2010 ratified the “State Program on the development of tourism in the Azerbaijan Republic for 2010-2014” that included extensive activities plan for the realization of potentialities and the transition of tourism sector to the leading field of the national economy in future.  

Over the last 10 years the number of foreign citizens coming to our country has increased more than 2 times. While 767,000 foreign citizens visited Azerbaijan in 2001, their number increased up to 1,177,000 in 2005 and up to 1,963,000 in 2010.

While 93 hotels and accommodating agencies operated in Azerbaijan in 2001, their number has reached 499 in 2010. Over the last 1 year about 50 new hotels are to be put into operation in Baku and the regions of Azerbaijan. 

Taking into account the necessity to achieve further development of tourism in the Azerbaijan Republic and create favourable conditions for tourism activities, the President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev signed the Order declaring 2011 year to be the year of tourism in order to ensure a large-scoped introduction of natural monuments of our country with a rich landscape and the cultural and historical legacy of our nation by using effectively tourism resources of the country.

Thus, successfully implemented projects, state programs and reforms stipulate the continuity of achievements obtained by Azerbaijan over ten years and make it possible to rank Azerbaijan as a state with dynamic economy in the world.