Dr. Khalid Mubarak Al-Shafi, Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula, with Faud Nagiyev, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

 

 

 

Dr. Khalid Mubarak Al-Shafi | Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula 

 

Baku: Qatar is an important market for Azerbaijan’s tourism sector. Azerbaijan State Tourism Agency will work closely with authorities in Qatar to increase inflow of tourists. Citizens of Qatar and residents are eligible for visa on arrival to Azerbaijan with a possibility of a one-month extension.

Some “12,459 Qatari passport holders visited the country in 2018. Qatar is one of the important markets for us and next year we will continue working closely with Qatari travel and trade, attending fairs and trade shows, as well as working closely with media and influencers,” Faud Nagiyev, Chairman of Azerbaijan State Tourism Agency told The Peninsula in an exclusive interview.

The State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the central executive body to improve public administration in the field of tourism. Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB) is the national promotion body established under the State Tourism Agency to support the growth of Azerbaijan’s tourism industry. Earlier this year, ATB introduced the marketing campaign ‘Take another look’ at the 26th edition of ATM. As part of its strategy to present a new portrait of the country, enhance its destination value and double the current in-bound tourism by 2023, the Agency has launched the global marketing campaign to garner interest from tourists across the GCC region.

“The campaign reveals Azerbaijan’s distinctive culture, delectable cuisine, phenomenal shopping experiences and indulgent health and wellness retreats. As we encourage visitors from the GCC to ‘Take another look’, we are inviting them to take a more in-depth look at Azerbaijan and immerse themselves in truly genuine cultural experiences. Guests will want to dig deeper into the country’s history and rich cultural heritage as they discover pleasant surprises and hidden gems throughout the year,” said Faud Nagiyev Chairman of the agency.

Azerbaijan’s unique geography offers nine out of 11 distinct climatic zones, with attractive weather and lush snowy mountains, beaches, forests, national parks, ski resorts, and more. The country has the perfect blend of history and modern infrastructure, and its location has resulted in a cuisine that is influenced by the tastes of the Middle East, Turkey, Europe and Asia. Azerbaijan has a majority Muslim population so visitors can expect halal options aplenty.

“The GCC is a key market for Azerbaijan. Ties between Azerbaijan and the GCC have always been close, with lots of cultural and historical touch-points,” said the Chairman.

To meet the growing demand in the region, airlines have increased the frequency of direct flights from the Middle East to Azerbaijan. Local carriers like Qatar Airways, FlyDubai, Azerbaijan Airlines, Air Arabia,  Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Jazeera Airways, Flynas are providing tourists with convenient flight routes to facilitate travel.

“The new initiatives are expected to improve Azerbaijan’s ranking among countries with a high tourism contribution towards national GDP, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council 2018 Impact Report. It is forecast to be at six percent per annum over the course of the next 10 years ranking it amongst the world’s top 20 high potential countries,” said Faud Nagiyev. “We have driven an exceptional year of growth in tourism across the stunning capital city Baku and other key regions of Azerbaijan, with international visitor numbers up by 11 percent YTD (year to date),”  he added. 

Markets with a significant increase in visitors include India (70 percent), the UK (27 percent), China (64 percent), and Germany (22 percent). With a clear ambition to double current in-bound tourism by 2023, the increase in visitors is partly due to an intensive global marketing campaign.

“Major investments are being made with the launch of local representative offices in target markets, and roadshows to connect with tour operators from a B2B perspective. We already have six representative offices in Germany, Russia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, China and India, with two more in the pipeline for 2020. Next year we are planning to expand the network and open new representative offices in Ukraine and South Korea. We are also working on developing new tourism products and creating new experiences for incoming tourists,” said Faud Nagiyev, Chairman of the agency.

Sport will continue to be a key factor in inspiring tourists to visit Azerbaijan. Formula 1 will return to Baku for the fifth year running with the capital’s streets transformed into a world-class course. In 2020, Azerbaijan will be one of several countries to host Euro 2020. To celebrate the tournament’s 60th anniversary, instead of one host country, 12 European cities including Baku will host games throughout the tournament. Baku will play host to Group A matches (Turkey, Switzerland, Wales) in June 2020 and one of the quarter finals in July 2020. 

Supported by a rich history that dates back 5,000 years, and home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, its composite culture has evolved with the passing through of travellers along the Great Silk Road. Among the popular attractions is the Heydar Aliyev Centre. 

Designed by world-famous architect Zaha Hadid, the centre is the crown jewel of Baku’s architectural treasures and is widely considered amongst the world’s most memorable recent constructions. Also popular is the UNESCO site of the ancient Ateshgah, a Fire Temple which continues to amaze visitors with its spouts of flame. 

The country is also blessed with a variety of rich mineral deposits, fast becoming a preferred destination for health and wellness with world-class spas, traditional hammams and mud baths.

For sports enthusiasts, there are high-profile sporting events such as the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix and leading international football games. There is a vibrant gastronomical scene with annual food festivals, authentic cafes, fine dining restaurants and other amenities. 

“Those seeking genuine local experiences can enjoy the traditional bazaars, the thriving jazz community, or DJs from around the world who contribute to a lively nightlife. The malls of Baku have low price offers as well as luxury brands. As a budget-friendly holiday destination closer than Europe, Azerbaijan is the ideal destination for GCC nationals,” Faud Nagiyev added.

“Gabala airport, started on 2011 is the second airport in Azerbaijan offering international arrivals and departures, however, we are looking at increasing connectivity to and from this region in the near future,” he said.

Azerbaijan’s recent investments in tourism and country promotion including the newly launched city-wide official pass, Baku Card are testimony to the fact that the country is poised to become a popular tourist destination. The Baku Card provides visitors with free public transport, entry tickets to selected city museums and attractions including discounts and special offers at shops, cafes and restaurants.

“Azerbaijan is a true amalgamation of the East and West with the country encircled in scores of natural beauties speckled with modern architecture and rich medieval history. From Baku’s modern Flame Towers, to the depths of the medieval UNESCO World Heritage site, there’s something for everyone in Azerbaijan. A constantly evolving tapestry of life and energy from bazaars to jazz clubs makes it an ideal destination for family holidays as well as solo travels,” the Chairman said.

“Azerbaijan is a country of great ambition, diverse culture, and world-class infrastructure. Baku has a wide selection of state-of-the-art facilities, some of which are iconic and remarkable 21st-century architectural masterpieces. The Baku Convention Centre is an impressive, open-plan space offering unobstructed views across Baku’s greatest architectural masterpiece: the Heydar Aliyev Centre. Designed by world-famous architect Zaha Hadid, the centre is widely considered amongst the world’s most memorable modern constructions. These two venues stand out both for their futuristic designs as well as their ability to accommodate sophisticated large-scale international events,” Nagiyev said. 

It is very easy to travel within the country with well-developed highways, metro/subway lines, taxis and bus network. Almost all international five-star hotel chains are present in Baku, like Four Seasons, Hilton, JW Marriott, Fairmont along with five-star local hotel chains that offer great hospitality. 

“An Eastern country with a Western outlook, Azerbaijan has an exceptional combination of antiquity and novelty with many sites of interest. The country has a rich history dating back five millennia and a culture that has evolved as travellers passed along the Great Silk Road. As such, it is well used to welcoming guests and boasts deep traditions of hospitality and multiculturalism,” said Faud Nagiyev.

Azerbaijan State Tourism Agency has a plan to increase the number of tourists coming to Azerbaijan from 3 million to 5 million in the next few years.

“We plan to double the current in-bound tourism by 2023. Excellence is at the core of everything we do: we are constantly developing the infrastructure in the regions. Our award-winning international airport is now connected with over 20 airlines and more than 70 direct flights to various destinations across the globe,” said Faud Nagiyev. 

“We recently established the Azerbaijan Hotel Association, the Guide Association and the Association of Tour Agencies to train and provide best practice. We are opening further visitor centres at our unique mud volcanoes site and launching Destination Management Organizations in Ganja and Lankaran to support sustainable development of tourism,” said Faud Nagiyev, the Chairman.

“We are welcoming an increasing number of film crews to discover our spectacular landscapes, including summer countryside and winter ski slopes, adventure trails, and cultural events. We have also made investments into corporate infrastructure, aimed at the MICE and business travellers. These developments and more open up the opportunities for growth as we also expand our in-market office presence further into Europe and Asia,” he added. .