Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 27 /Trend I. Isabalayeva/
After completion of construction of 'Shahdag' winter summer sports and tourist complex it will receive 10 thousand of tourists daily.
This was said by Azerbaijani Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfaz Garayev during the conference of ministers, held in the capital of Austria Vienna on 'Caucasus and Central Asia- promotion of sustainable development in face of global economic challenges', the ministry press service reported on Thursday.
One of Azerbaijan's greatest achievements in the field of tourism development is construction of 'Shahdag' winter summer sports and tourist complex in mountainous area of Gusar region at an altitude of 1400 - 2500 meters above sea level, the minister stated.
Some 5 thousands of workplaces will be created here following the completion of construction works.
The minister said, activities conducted in tourism sector positively affect tourist flow to Azerbaijan.
The number of foreign visitors has exceeded 2 millions for the first time last year. The Republic welcomed 2 millions 239 thousands of visitors, which is 14 % more than in 2010. 508 hotels and hotel type establishments are currently operating in Azerbaijan. The number of tourists in the hotels, 50 % of which are foreign citizens, has increased by 16.3 percent in comparison with 2010.
"Five years ago the number of hotels in Azerbaijan didn't reach 300. Some 30 hotels have been constructed and commissioned last year", Garayev noted.
According to the minister, 45 more hotels are being constructed. Some 178 tourism companies are currently operating in the country.