New direction for Azerbaijan’s statistics: Students help analyse tourism PHOTO

Azerbaijan’s State Statistics Committee is conducting a large-scale survey of foreign passengers at Heydar Aliyev International Airport with the help of students to gather tourism data, marking a new direction in the country’s statistical work.

The young people conducting the survey can be identified by vests and caps bearing the words “State Statistics Committee” in Azerbaijani and English, Caliber.Az reports.

Mehman Mekhtiyev, head of the committee’s Public Relations and Communications Department, said this year, the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan has for the first time involved university students in conducting sample statistical surveys in the tourism sector.

“The process has been underway for more than a month,” he noted.

“The questions may seem simple at first glance: What is the purpose of your visit to Azerbaijan? How many days did you stay in the country? Where did you stay? Approximately how much did you spend during your trip? However, it is precisely these responses that later form the statistical indicators reflecting tourist flows, length of stay and spending by visitors to the country. The responses are entered into an electronic system immediately,” he added.

Mekhtiyev stressed that the decision to involve students in the surveys was deliberate.

“It is important for us that they study official statistics not only from textbooks, but also participate directly in the process. We want them to see for themselves where the primary data comes from, how work with respondents is conducted and how statistical observation is organised in real-world conditions. The initiative also has a longer-term goal — building human resources in the field of official statistics,” he explained.

The initiative is not limited to Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Students are also currently taking part in tourism surveys at Nakhchivan International Airport. The next stage will involve similar work at Baku Railway Station.

In addition, students are expected to conduct tourism surveys among Azerbaijani citizens in the near future.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov