Azerbaijan , Baku, Sept.27 / Trend, I.Isabalayeva /
The number of foreign tourists arriving in Azerbaijan has increased by 15 percent for the six months of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, the Chief of Staff of the Azerbaijani Culture and Tourism Ministry Firudin Gurbanov said in an interview with Trend, dedicated to World Tourism Day, on Tuesday, Sept. 27.
He said this increase indicates a tourism development sector in Azerbaijan. Most tourists arrive from Russia, Iran, Turkey and Georgia. During the first half of 2011, the number of Russian tourists who visited Azerbaijan increased by 20 percent, Iranians by14.4 percent, Georgians by 14 percent, and Turks by 7 percent.
Gurbanov said that in the past 10 years the number of foreigners to visit Azerbaijan has more than doubled. Azerbaijan hosted 767,000 foreign tourists in 2001, 1,177 in 2005, and 1,963 in 2010.
Tourism is considered to be a priority sector in Azerbaijan's non-oil economy, Gurbanov said. He said that appropriate conditions have been established to develop tourism in the country.
Gurbanov said the government carries out major work targeted to increase revenue from the tourism sector.
"According to specialists' estimates, if investment in oil brings in income every 5-6 years, investment in tourism brings profits within a year. Tourism stimulates related industries, including agriculture, transportation, communications, and trade," Gurbanov said.
He said that in 2002 the national leader Heydar Aliyev approved the State Program on Tourism Development for 2002-2005. Within the program, initial measures have been taken to ensure the development of tourism. Successful implementation of the program has laid the foundation for development of tourism in Azerbaijan.
Gurbanov said that for the past period the number of accommodation facilities increased in Azerbaijan. But in Azerbaijan's early years of independence there were no necessary conditions for tourists arriving in the country. At that time, it was possible to accommodate tourists arriving in Azerbaijan only at the "Intourist" Hotel, which did not meet international standards.
If 93 hotels and accommodation facilities operated in Azerbaijan in 2001, then in 2010 their number reached 499, Gurbanov said. The number of hotels to be commissioned in 2011 in Baku and the country's regions is 50.
" This indicates that the tourism infrastructure in Azerbaijan is growing stronger . It is good that new facilities meet international standards. It should be stressed that in recent years Azerbaijan hosts important events. And holding such events requires proper infrastructure and accommodation facilities. Of course, the state takes appropriate steps in this direction, and the result is obvious. Tourists arriving in Azerbaijan emphasize that the country creates an infrastructure which meets modern requirements," Gurbanov said.