Azerbaijan, Baku, September 4 / A. Akhundov /
Azerbaijani travel agencies will be able to surpass the foreign companies operating in Azerbaijan on the level of rendered services in the nearest 1-2 years, the Travel Agencies Association chairman Nahid Bagirov told Trend.
"For example, the difference in the work of local travel companies and foreign companies operating in Azerbaijan was very big four years ago. But now we have good progress. While giving licenses for tourism activity, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Travel Agencies Association conduct a thorough investigation. We pay great attention to the professional level of employees and directors, " Bagirov said.
He said that the Travel Agencies Association and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism will conduct interviews with candidates for leading positions in travel agencies before issuing the license.
"The people who intend to become heads of the companies will be interviewed before issuing a license in future. This will be a major step forward. The Association and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism are preparing a draft. This is practiced in other foreign countries," Bagirov said.
He said that graduates of the Azerbaijani Tourism Institute will be in great demand.
"This year the Azerbaijani Tourism Institute graduates first students. They will be in great demand in travel agencies and hotels. These are real experts in the field of tourism. They will contribute to the development of Azerbaijani tourism market ", Bagirov said.
The Azerbaijani Travel Agencies Association was created with the assistance of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture in January 2009. The board members include Improtex Travel, Caspian Travel, Pasha Travel, Silkway Travel, Euroturizm CEOs. Over 51 travel companies are members of the association.
The association protects the interests of travel agencies, develops bills, recommendations and regulations, assists in establishing national travel companies. It develops plans to conduct trainings and seminars for market participants, creates conditions for advertising of Azerbaijani tourism at annual international exhibitions; develops domestic tourism and presents tourism products at the world market.
The association also tries to develop and introduce congressional tourism, help to train specialists in the management and services etc.