European tour operators interested in expanding business with Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijan State Tourism Agency has announced that from November 29 to December 6, 2024, representatives of tourism companies from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland undertook a business mission to Azerbaijan.

The visit, organised by the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, involved 14 tourism companies from these countries holding B2B meetings with 35 local companies to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation, Caliber.Az reports.

During their visit, the representatives of the European tourism companies explored notable attractions in Baku and Nakhchivan.

According to official statistics, from January to November 2024, Azerbaijan welcomed 25,599 tourists from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland - an increase of 26 per cent compared to the same period last year.

The State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan was established by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, titled "On Certain Measures Related to the Improvement of State Management in the Field of Culture and Tourism," dated April 20, 2018.

According to the Statute of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, approved by the President's Decree on September 21, 2018, the agency functions as a central executive body responsible for implementing state policies and regulations in tourism, as well as overseeing the protection of historical and cultural monuments within state reserves under its jurisdiction.

The agency is tasked with developing and executing a unified state policy in tourism, establishing norms, regulating and controlling tourism activities, coordinating efforts with other government bodies, organisations, and private sector entities, as well as international and non-governmental organisations. Its responsibilities also include the preservation of reserves, promoting national culinary traditions, and ensuring the sustainable use of resources.

The agency focuses on key areas such as developing state programmes and concepts for tourism, attracting investments to enhance tourism infrastructure, industry, and reserves, establishing new tourism zones, promoting Azerbaijan as a global tourism destination, creating and marketing the country's tourism brand, improving research and statistics for long-term development, preparing marketing plans for regions and cities, enhancing tourism education, fostering public-private partnerships, increasing tourist satisfaction, combating seasonality, and developing new tourism products while safeguarding reserves.

By Naila Huseynova