Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 19 / Trend A. Akhundov /
Azerbaijan and Georgia must unite their efforts by promoting the South Caucasus region and attracting foreign tourists, Georgian First Deputy Minister of the Economy and Sustainable Development Irakli Matkava said.
He is involved in the work of the first hotel investment conference for the CIS and Georgia (iCON), dedicated to the regional development of the hotel sector and the investment climate, as well as other relevant industrial issues he told Trend in Baku today.
"First of all, the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia in the field of tourism is important given the fact that the South Caucasian region has recently appeared on the world tourism map and must be intensively promoted," he said. "In this sense, it is very important for us to unite our resources, human, state and natural. It is important to have these relationships and offer joint products. Our cooperation in this area is moving ahead."
He said that there is quite a good history of Georgian and Azerbaijani tour operators' working together.
"This of course is supported by the governments of both countries," he said. "We are pleased to see the growing number of Azerbaijani tourists. It is very important for us, because it is good for the country's economy and strengthens mutual ties. A lot of Georgian tourists arrive in Baku. For example, Georgian people like to celebrate the New Year in Baku."
He added that there are a number of issues that are indirectly related to tourism development.
"For example, the issues related to the joint protection of the environment and cultural monuments," he said. "This is very important as it directly affects the development of tourism."