Western Europe drives surge in travel to Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan recorded a notable increase in tourist arrivals from Europe in the first quarter of 2026, even as overall inbound travel declined, according to official statistics, cited by local media.

Between January and March, the country welcomed 41,941 visitors from European nations, marking a 15 per cent rise compared to the same period last year.

The growth was driven largely by Western Europe, where arrivals surged by 29 per cent year-on-year to 21,210 tourists. Meanwhile, visitor numbers from Eastern Europe rose more modestly, increasing by 3.5 per cent to 20,731.

Despite the uptick in European tourism, total inbound travel to Azerbaijan fell during the same period. Overall, 484,400 foreign citizens and stateless persons from 172 countries entered the country in the first three months of 2026, representing a 4.7 per cent decrease compared to the previous year.

By Tamilla Hasanova