TODAY.AZ / Business

Land of Fire sees rise in number of visitors

03 May 2017 [15:31] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews


By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan, enjoying variegated and often strikingly beautiful terrain, offers a blend of traditions and modern development, which attracts more and more tourist to the country.

Tourists see here a clash of East meets West and find a lot to enjoy. Situated on the Great Silk Road, and divided partially between Eastern Europe and Western Asia, Azerbaijan blended the best from both cultures, forming its own unique rich culture, that’s why its people are neither totally Eastern, nor totally Western.

Abulfas Garayev, Culture and Tourism Minister said that the number of tourists visiting the Land of Fire increased by 25 percent over the past three months compared to the same period last year.

The minister, addressing discussions over a bill "On Tourism" at a meeting of the Parliament on May 2, stressed that the Strategic Road Map on the tourism sector defined 15 countries with a large potential of tourist inflow to Azerbaijan.

"If the tourist flow to the country, in general, increased by 25 percent, then the growth rate of visitors from these 15 countries reached 36 percent," Garayev said.

The minister stressed that the government policy and targeted projects bear fruits.  “Simplification of the visa regime has influenced the growth of the tourist flow to the country. Azerbaijan participates in various exhibitions, the country's tourism opportunities are being promoted on world TV channels, which also draws attention to our country," Garayev added.

He also noted the necessity of developing the use of electronic tourism services.

"The bill stipulates creation and management of new tourist zones, application of new international service standards, innovations in the formation of the educational system. The market participants, who will be included in the State Register of Tourism, will become more responsible. The creation of the Register will prevent fraud,” the minister stressed.

Azerbaijan makes everything possible to use its natural advantages to develop the tourism sector of the country, implementing various projects and programs for attracting tourists to the Land of Fire. These efforts gave fruit and in a short period of time the country was able to raise the quality of its tourism sector.

Over the past year, the country was visited by a large number of tourists, especially from Arab and other Muslim countries. This is mainly due to the simplified conditions for obtaining an entry visa for citizens of certain countries.  

URL: http://www.today.az/news/business/160769.html

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