Azerbaijan's hospitality sector booms with Indian tourists leading the charge

Indian tourists rank first in the total number of overnight stays in hotels in Azerbaijan in the period from January to June 2024.

In the reported period, 1.851,7 million overnight stays were made in hotels and hotel-type facilities in Azerbaijan, which is 35.8% more than the same period in 2023, Caliber.Az reports, citing the State Statistics Committee

At the same time, 1.80,9 million (an increase of 37.1%) overnight stays were made by foreign citizens or stateless persons, which is equal to 58.4% of all overnight stays.

Of the total number of overnight stays among foreign tourists, 21.1% were accounted for by Indian citizens. Tourists from Russia rank second - 14.6%, and tourists from Türkiye are in third place - 7.8%.

In addition, 6.6% of overnight stays were made by tourists from Saudi Arabia, 5.7% - UAE, 3.3% - US, 2.8% - Kuwait, 2.7% - Kazakhstan, 2.4% - UK, 2.2% - China, 2.1% - Israel, 2.1% - Uzbekistan, 2.1% - Pakistan, 1.3% - Germany, 1.1% - Italy, 22.1% - from other countries.

According to statistics, 82.5% of overnight stays by foreigners and stateless persons were made in Baku hotels, 5% - in Gusar, 3.9% - in Gabala, 3.6% - Naftalan, 2.9% - Guba, 0.5% - Shabran, 1.6% - in other cities and regions.

In addition, the number of overnight stays of Azerbaijani citizens in the country's hotels increased by 34% and amounted to 770,800, which is 41.6% of the total number of overnight stays.

The main number of total overnight stays for the first half of this year falls on Baku hotels - 66.5%. In Gusar, the number of overnight stays was 5.3%, in Naftalan - 4.4%, in Guba - 3.9%, in Gabala - 3.6%, in Shabran - 3.3%, in Lankaran - 2%, in Khachmaz - 1.2%, in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic - 1%, in other cities and regions - 8.8%.

According to the State Statistics Committee, the average hotel occupancy rate in the republic for January-June 2024 was 21.1% compared to 16.6% for the first half of 2023, including 49.1% in Shabran, 39.1% in Naftalan, 37.3% in Baku, 28% in Gusarakh, and the occupancy rate in other cities and regions was below average.