Tourism activities between Turkiye and Azerbaijan were discussed in the workshop held in Baku.
According to the statement made by the Turkish Hoteliers Association (TUROB), the potential of the tourism market between the two countries was discussed at the workshop held under the coordination of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in cooperation with the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency, TUROB and Turkish Airlines, with the organization of Alaska Tourism.
TUROB President Muberra Eresin, whose views were included in the statement, stated that the number of visitors coming to Turkiye from Azerbaijan, a sister country with a population of about 10 million, approaching the pre-pandemic figures is a result of brotherhood.
Eresin stated that approximately 700 thousand Azerbaijanis came to Turkiye in 2022 and said:
“We foresee that this number will reach 1 million in a short time. Turkiye was the first choice of Azerbaijani citizens who went abroad in 2022. Last year, 315,000 tourists went to Azerbaijan from Turkiye. Turkiye is among the top 5 countries that send the most tourists to Azerbaijan. This shows how important Azerbaijan is for Azerbaijan tourism, just as it is for Turkiye. Azerbaijan has the potential to host more tourists than Turkiye. Because Azerbaijan has important infrastructure and superstructure opportunities for Turkish visitors in many aspects such as gastronomy, summer and winter tourism, cultural tourism, health tourism.
In order to activate this important potential, we will further increase mutual cooperation and promotional activities with our Azerbaijani colleagues. We are open to all kinds of cooperation in order to reach the number of 1 million 850 thousand that we target as Azerbaijan tourism potential. We will increase mutual cooperation and promotion activities with our Azerbaijani colleagues in order to activate this important potential.”
41 hotels participated in the workshop in Baku
Turkiye’s Ambassador to Baku Cahit Bagci also pointed out that Turkiye is almost in a position of shame with the level of Turkish hotel management, and said, “Undoubtedly, Turkiye-Azerbaijan relations are a unique form of relationship between the two countries, which sets an example to the world in terms of the level it has reached today. Our duty, the duty of officials in all sectors, is to generate synergy from this relationship style, this understanding, this approach.”
According to the information given, 41 hotels participated in the workshop in Baku. Face-to-face meetings were held in the organization, in which approximately 200 leading travel agencies and tour operators of Azerbaijan participated as guests.
Azerbaijan Tourism Agency Apparatus Guide Kenan Kasimov, Azerbaijan Travel Agencies Association President Goydaniz Gahramanov, Azerbaijan Hoteliers Association President Eldar Alimuradov and THY Baku Manager Hamid Eldeleklioglu shared their wishes and expectations for the development of tourism in the two countries.
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz