Azerbaijan, Baku, August 30 / Trend E. Ismaylov/
Development of the tourism infrastructure and implementation of large scale construction projects in Azerbaijan will create conditions for the development of sea passenger transport in the Caspian Sea, a source at the transport sector of Azerbaijan told Trend on Thursday.
According to the source, currently passenger transport in the Caspian Sea is underdeveloped, but there are good prospects to use this segment of the transport sector.
"In particular, the implementation of such large scale projects along the Azerbaijani coast of the Caspian Sea, such as a trade and hotel complex Aypara and Khazar Islands residential complex can revive the tourist industry in the Caspian Sea, thus creating conditions for the development of maritime transport, " he said.
In source's opinion, the catalyst of the development of sea passenger transport in the Caspian Sea can be the implementation of large scale infrastructure projects in Azerbaijan.
"Development of the tourist industry in Baku, along with the revival of passenger traffic between the Caspian countries can also have a positive impact on development in Azerbaijan using water transport such as a sea taxi," the source said.
Another direction of the development can be organising cruises in the Caspian countries. "In particular, there are opportunities for the organisation and development of cruise of vessels from the Mediterranean and Black Sea by the channel system to the Caspian countries during the navigation season," the source noted.
Currently, international passenger transport in the Caspian Sea by ferries is carried out only on the Baku-Aktau (Kazakhstan) and Baku-Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan) routes.