Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.22 /Trend, I. Isabalayeva /
The Azerbaijani budget receives about $1.5 billion from tourism annually, Azerbaijani Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev said at a board meeting on the Year of Tourism in Azerbaijan.
Every year over 2 million tourists visit the country, each of whom leaves about $700 on average in Azerbaijan. The number of foreign tourists visiting Azerbaijan last year grew by 14 percent, he said.
Garayev expressed hope that 2012 will be even more successful for the tourism sector as Baku will host Eurovision in May.
According to Garayev, about 50 new hotels are under construction.