DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, October 9. The number of tourists from Tajikistan visiting Azerbaijan has surged, with 3,436 people arriving from January through September 2023, which is an 86.9-percent rise compared to the same period of 2022 (1,838 people), Trend reports.
Data from the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan reveals that this figure also rose by 40 percent when compared to the same period of 2019, the year before the COVID-19 restrictions, when 2,437 Tajik citizens visited Azerbaijan. In contrast, 1,175 tourists from Tajikistan arrived in Azerbaijan from January through September 2020, and 591 persons in 2021.
In September 2023, Azerbaijan welcomed 534 Tajik citizens, which is a 3 percent increase from September 2022 (518 tourists). For perspective, in September 2019, 410 tourists from Tajikistan visited Azerbaijan.
A total of 2,736 tourists from Tajikistan visited Azerbaijan in 2022, which was 3.3 times more compared to 2021. Meanwhile, only 42 Azerbaijani citizens traveled to Tajikistan in 2022, and 59 citizens did so in 2021.
Tajikistan's Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Ilhom Abdurahmon, previously emphasized the potential for tourism to enhance bilateral relations with Azerbaijan.
He noted that this year, direct air travel between Dushanbe and Baku had been reestablished, which is expected to expand opportunities for cooperation in tourism and trade.
Ambassador Abdurahmon added that Azerbaijan holds significant appeal for Tajik tourists due to its diverse cultural and natural attractions that attract travelers from across the world.
"Our citizens are increasingly interested in traveling to Azerbaijan and experiencing the rich culture and unique natural beauty of the Caucasus region. As a result, Tajikistan is actively seeking to strengthen and enhance cooperation in the field of tourism," he said.