Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 3 / Trend A.Akhundov /
Azerbaijani tourists in Turkey acquire the status of tourists with high costs, Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay said in an interview with Trend.
"The study of the profile of Azerbaijani tourists visiting Turkey revealed that they mainly prefer tourist areas and acquire the status of tourists with high costs. In 2010 this trend continued," Gunay said.
He said Azerbaijani citizens with an income above average, comparing the quality and cost of services, prefer tourist attractions in Turkey to local when choosing a place of rest.
Gunay said the Turkish Airlines (Türk Hava Yolları) carries out daily flights to Azerbaijan - generally 21 flights a week. Azerbaijan Airlines AZAL carries out 13 scheduled flights a week on the Baku-Istanbul flight, and two on the Baku-Ankara flight. In summer 2008, AZAL conducted four flights to Bodrum and Antalya and eight in summer 2009.
"The growth of air traffic is an indicator of the growing interest of Azerbaijan to Turkey," Gunay said.
However, he said, the increase in the number of Azerbaijani tourists, compared to the flow of tourists from Georgia and Iran, is not sufficient.
"For Azerbaijani tourists, Turkey is a country that speaks the same language without a visa problem, and with the same traditions and customs. Azerbaijani citizens feel in Turkey as in their homeland. The current rate of growth of the number of Azerbaijani tourists, of course, is not sufficient," Gunay said.
Based on the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry's data, in 2010 Turkey was visited by 486,381 Azerbaijani citizens, which is 14.67 percent over last year. In 2009, Turkey was visited by 424,155 Azerbaijani citizens.
The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) reported that in 2010, 441,468 Azerbaijani citizens visited Turkey - 112,055 of them visited the country to meet with family and friends; 100,167 people - travel and leisure; 44,269 people - trade; 30,058 people - work (conferences, meetings, etc.); 12,822 people - treatment; 7,069 people - education; 1,556 people - religious purposes; 685 people - transit; and 132,788 people for other purposes.