BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 28. Hosting such a prestigious event as COP29 in Azerbaijan will positively impact the development of tourism, Rahman Guliyev, expert for tourism, told Trend.
He noted that the country has experience hosting similar events.
"The whole world will be watching Baku. The fact that world leaders are gathering in our capital demonstrates that our country holds immense authority globally. Hotel occupancy levels in the capital are already approaching 100 percent.
The conference will attract international attention to our country and serve as an excellent platform for promoting Azerbaijan's environmental initiatives.
COP29 will revive eco-tourism and sustainable tourism. At the same time, organizing the conference will boost the development of the country's tourist infrastructure and allow a wider audience to become acquainted with our culture.
Such events will also positively impact the local economy and lead to an increase in tourist arrivals in Azerbaijan," emphasized Guliyev.
Tourism expert Azer Hasanov pointed out that hosting COP29 in Azerbaijan will increase the tourist flow to the country.
"Global discussions on climate change will highlight Azerbaijan's eco-tourism potential and attract international attention. This will also create new opportunities for exhibition and conference tourism. Familiarizing visitors with local culture and historical sites may increase the number of tourists.
COP29 will allow Azerbaijan to gain recognition on the international stage and showcase the country’s environmental initiatives. This will heighten tourists' interest. Discussions on climate change can promote the development of eco-tourism.
Tourists will seek experiences that are more environmentally friendly. Hosting the conference could stimulate the development of tourist infrastructure, hotels, and transportation systems in the country. COP29 may organize special programs to promote Azerbaijani culture and nature, thereby increasing tourist flow.
The expansion of the tourism sector will invigorate the local economy, positively impacting the well-being of the local population. As a result, hosting COP29 may help Azerbaijan increase tourist traffic and strengthen the country’s international image," he noted.
A source in the State Tourism Agency said that the tourism industry in Azerbaijan, including hotels, continues to prepare for COP29.
"Since May, hotel and accommodation bookings based on their star ratings have been made through a special unified online booking platform. In addition to hotels, the use of residential complexes, villa complexes, recreation centers, and other accommodations will be considered if necessary. Participants in COP29 can rent houses in any city area through various platforms, such as Airbnb and Booking.
An audit of more than 300 accommodation facilities operating in Baku, Sumgayit, and the Absheron district has been conducted, with over 200 receiving a star rating.
The staff of about 2,000 hotels is receiving practical professional training, specialized training on sustainable development, and training on kitchen management and gastronomy (including vegan and vegetarian menu planning) to improve service quality," the source added.
This November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 70–80,000 foreign guests.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. COP—the Conference of the Parties—is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin with its secretariat in Bonn.
Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel