BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 25. Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau held several events in Beijing on September 24 within the framework of cooperation with Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC (AZAL) aimed at strengthening tourism ties between Azerbaijan and the People's Republic of China, Trend reports via Azerbaijani Tourism Bureau.
Meanwhile, it was noted that a memorandum of understanding was signed between Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC, the Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau, and Trip.com Group to strengthen cooperation in the field of tourism within the framework of the events.
According to the memorandum, the Ctrip platform will be actively used, which can make Azerbaijan an attractive destination for Chinese travelers.
In the course of the event, Director General of Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau Florian Sengstschmid emphasized the importance of this cooperation and noted that tourism ties between Azerbaijan and China have reached a new peak due to the increasing number of tourist arrivals and individual offers.
According to him, bilateral cooperation was further strengthened by signing a memorandum of understanding with Trip.com Group, which is an important step for the development of Azerbaijan's position in the Chinese market.
In addition, a press conference was organized to present Azerbaijan's tourism opportunities, which was attended by representatives of about 30 leading media outlets in China.
The press conference touched upon such issues as the introduction of a visa-free regime for Chinese tourists, the activity of the official representative office of the Bureau in China, and the realization of direct flights between Baku and Beijing by AZAL airline.
Additionally, it was noted that the visa-free regime, which will be in effect from July 20, 2024, through July 20, 2025, will allow Chinese citizens to visit Azerbaijan up to three times during the year.
Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC Chief Commercial Administrator Jamil Manizade said that AZAL started operating direct flights between Baku and Beijing twice a week in December 2023, and this route is not only an air link connecting the two capitals but also an important air bridge between our cultures, economies, and nations.
In the second part of the day, a special dinner was organized with the participation of Azerbaijan's Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, and other officials. It was attended by representatives of more than 100 embassies, media, and travel agencies in China.
To note, a series of presentation events were held in Shenzhen, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Beijing from 18 through 24 September to expand awareness of the Chinese tourism industry about Azerbaijan's tourism potential and strengthen the country's participation in the Chinese market under the organization of the Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau.
Over the first 8 months of 2024, 26,866 people from China visited Azerbaijan, which is 104 percent more compared to the same period last year.
