BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 24. The latest Travel & Tourism Development Index from the World Economic Forum highlights Azerbaijan's advancement by seven spots compared to the previous report, securing the 56th position among 119 countries, the State Tourism Agency told Trend.
It was highlighted that Azerbaijan has made significant progress, securing the 2nd highest position among CIS countries across four key components.
The report, based on data from the end of 2023, indicated growth in indicators across various areas, including business environment, safety, health, hygiene, human resources, and labor market, under the "availability of appropriate environment" component. Additionally, improvements were noted in international openness, price competitiveness under "travel and tourism policy and enabling conditions," cultural resources under "factors affecting demand for travel and tourism," and environmental sustainability and socio-economic sustainability under the “sustainability of travel and tourism” component.
Azerbaijan maintained its top ranking in the regular transmission of travel and tourism statistics to international databases as of 2021.
Furthermore, according to the Global Terrorism Index, Azerbaijan advanced 34 positions from the previous report, securing the top spot as the safest country. Progress was also noted in inbound tourism across various factors, including seasonality, data coverage, natural heritage sites, digital payment coverage, and 3G mobile network coverage.
However, the report also highlights areas for improvement in Azerbaijan's tourism sector, such as increasing the number of short-term rental accommodations, boosting capital investments in travel and tourism, expanding bilateral agreements on air transportation services, and ratifying treaties related to biodiversity, protected natural areas, and environmental conservation.
To enhance Azerbaijan's position in the Travel & Tourism Development Index, a Tourism Development Working Group was established in October 2022 by the State Tourism Agency, comprising relevant government bodies and businesses. This initiative, part of the Business Environment and International Ratings Commission, aims to coordinate efforts among public and private entities to improve the country's ranking in the index. Currently, the group is drafting a new action plan tailored to modern challenges and objectives.
The Travel & Tourism Development Index, initiated in 2007 and updated biennially, evaluates various aspects of tourism, including its economic and social impact, sustainability, and collaboration opportunities among organizations. This index is considered an advanced iteration of the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, previously developed by the World Economic Forum.
Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel