Baku, Azerbaijan, March 14
By Ilhama Isabalayeva - Trend:
The number of Iranian tourists who will come to Azerbaijan during the Novruz holiday (celebrated on March 20-21) may decrease by 30 percent, Nahid Bagirov, chairman of the Azerbaijan Tourism Association (AzTA), told Trend March 14.
Due to the changes in the Iranian economy, as well as an increase in fees for the Iranian citizens wishing to leave the country, the number of tourists will decrease, he said.
“All the rooms in hotels were booked last year in Azerbaijan,” Bagirov said. “This year, the number of booked hotel rooms is lower than last year.”
He added that instead of Iranian tourists, citizens of other Muslim countries, where the Novruz holiday is celebrated, may come to Azerbaijan.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan, more than 65,000 tourists came to Azerbaijan from Iran for the Novruz holiday in 2017.
In accordance with the Iranian law, the citizens of this country pay a certain state fee before travelling abroad.
Presently, Iranian citizens who travel by air transport pay $15, and those who travel by road transport pay $7.
Starting from March 20, the state fees will increase, and those traveling by air transport will have to pay $45, while those who travel by road transport will have to pay $15-$20.