Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2
By Aysham Rustamova - Trend:
Azerbaijan has a vast potential for the development of wine tourism, adviser to the chairman of the Azerbaijan Tourism Association Muzaffar Agakarimov told Trend on May 2.
He said that wine tourism has its own traditions in Azerbaijan.
“Azerbaijani wines, especially sweet wines, were very popular in the USSR, and in those years they were repeatedly awarded medals,” he noted. “At that time, both Azerbaijani wines and Azerbaijani cognac were well known. After the introduction of the “dry law” in the USSR, vast vineyards were destroyed in country. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was a decline in this area. In recent years, winemaking began to develop, and enterprises developing wine tourism started operating in Tovuz, Ganja, Shamakhi, Ismayilli and Gabala districts.”
In his view, Azerbaijani tourism structures should promote and encourage this area for further development.
“There are excellent opportunities for this,” he added. “It is possible to continue the traditions of wine tourism in the western regions including Tovuz, Shamkir, Ganja and Goygol and develop various tourist programs. In this regard, it is important to publicize this area and study the experience of European countries.”
In his words, wine tourism may attract European tourists to Azerbaijan. “First of all, it may be citizens of the CIS and Baltic countries,” Muzaffar Agakarimov said. “Most citizens of other European countries are also interested in this type of tourism. Moreover, wine tourism in Azerbaijan can be also attractive to the tourists from some Asian countries.”