Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB) observed an outstanding year of growth in tourism all over the capital city of Baku and other main regions of Azerbaijan, with a 66.8% increase in the number of Indian visitors. This accomplishment comes just over a year after ATB disclosed the “Take Another Look” campaign in India in 2018.

Other markets with a major increase in visitors include China (64%), UK (27%), and Germany (22%). To double the existing in-bound tourism by 2023, the increase in visitors is because of an intensive global marketing campaign and an amplified craving among Indian trave[lers to search out lesser-known destinations.

Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of Azerbaijan Tourism Board said: “We have had an extremely successful year since we launched “Take Another Look” in India. Our global marketing and communications campaign, paired with extensive in-market engagement and investment in tourism infrastructure has driven visitor numbers from India and beyond – reaffirming that Azerbaijan has truly arrived as a preferred destination in this region.”

He added, “India is a key market for us with immense potential due to its high number of international travellers and growing interest in the Caucasus region. OTM gives Azerbaijan Tourism Board a platform to share our culture, cuisine and country with the Indian market. With strong cultural and historical touchpoints between both countries and a simplified electronic visa process that can be done in under three hours, we aim to welcome many more Indians to discover Azerbaijan’s many offerings.”

ATB has done investments recently to expand the product portfolio of the country to meet the changing requirements of the Indian market. These comprise adventure activities like skiing, hiking, private jeep tours to the mountains; cultural experiences for example, vineyard tours, art and music festivals, and golf for the sports fans. The country is the ideal destination for families, with a variety of family-friendly resorts across a collection of budgets and numerous entertainment zones.

Sengstschmid said, “2020 is full of possibilities as we look to attract corporate, wedding and leisure travellers from the region to Azerbaijan. We are opening new visitor centres at the unique mud volcanoes site and working on new tourism products like hiking, trekking, and birdwatching among others. We are also looking forward to welcoming many film crews to discover our spectacular landscapes, including summer countryside and winter ski slopes, adventure trails, and more.”

The Tourism Board of Azerbaijan is also working towards deciding a three-city road show across Delhi, Ahmadabad and Mumbai, in order to connect with airlines and tour operators in the country. At present, Indian carriers are too measuring the market and probable flight connectivity.

Azerbaijan’s upcoming gifts for the Indian market –

Sporting Events:

Sport will go on to be a major factor to encourage tourists to visit Azerbaijan. Formula 1 will come back to Baku for the fifth year running with the capital’s streets converted into a world-class course. In 2020, Azerbaijan will be one of the numerous countries to host Euro 2020. To rejoice the tournament’s 60th anniversary, in place of one host country, 12 European cities including Baku will host games all through the tournament. Baku will play host to Group A matches and one of the quarter-finals in June 2020.

Film Policy:

Also, ATB are working on a film policy to inspire and promote the Indian film industry. With a well-recognized infrastructure, modern facilities, and tax discounts, Indian cinema is gradually looking at this region with only some film shoots by now in the pipeline. Azerbaijan is speculator options to film at because of historic settings, modern architectural monuments and medieval UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Novruz festival:

Novruz symbolizes the change in season. The tone of Azerbaijan is festive and it’s a great time to soak in Azerbaijani culture. Tourists can find exceptional miniature arts spread on the streets along with candles and conscientiously painted eggs across mirrors to bring good luck. Ganja in Azerbaijan will be hosting a two-day cultural soirée to observe the festival with packages for tourists to book to visit.

Ski Focus:

Azerbaijan is bordered by mountains making winters appealing for ski enthusiasts. Azerbaijan’s ski-friendly regions are a stunning sight to visit and host luxury ski resorts atop the mountain range with first-class amenities and well-prepared slopes. Boasting unmatched beauty, ski resorts and chalets sit on the shoulders of the Greater Caucasus Mountains in Gabala and Gusar regions with absolutely groomed slopes that are best for snowboarding and skiing – whether you are a beginner or an experienced skier.

Business events development:

Baku’s top-notch conference facilities and state-of-the-art venues position itself to become a top business events destination with a well-developed infrastructure able to host large scale meetings and conferences. With its modern facilities and hospitable culture, Azerbaijan is the ideal place to meet and do business.

Favourite Wedding/ Honeymoon place:

Azerbaijan’s natural beauty provides a romantic backdrop for destination wedding hunters, honeymooners and couples looking for a romantic retreat. Until now, an untouched and mostly unheard-of country is now a haven for to-be couples, with specially made resorts including the Autograph Collection, Fairmont and Four Seasons opening their doors to host the most sumptuous weddings. The capital Baku, has skilled wedding planners, picture-perfect weather, beautiful locations and luxurious hospitality chains, making it a perfect wedding option.

Rejuvenated Wine Route:

Azerbaijan is one of the bases of the world’s viticulture, with the foothills and valleys of the Caucasus country naturally growing vinifera grapevines. Thus, the region has produced some fine wines over its celebrated 6000-year wine history. Azerbaijan’s wine industry has been growing fast over the last decade with wide investments in top quality technology, and a good-humoured experimentation with internationally famous grape varieties and many local alternatives. The result is an original and ever growing range of fine wines.

For more information, check- www.azerbaijanwine.com

Golf Tourism Strategy:

In October of 2019, Azerbaijan Tourism Board joined the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) to promote and reinforce Azerbaijan’s position as a new golf destination. Azerbaijan brags two 18-hole international standard golf clubs. This includes the luxury 170-acre Dreamland Golf Club located 40 minutes away from the city centre of Baku, and the National Golf Club which is set amongst the lush green forests around Quba Palace Hotel.

For more information, check-www.golfazerbaijan.com

 Experience Azerbaijan magazine:

It is a free biannual travel magazine published by the Azerbaijan Tourism Board. It aims to display the full range of activities and experiences the country has to present. Articles and stories are crafted by leading local and foreign writers, photographers and other content producers to encourage curious travellers to visit Azerbaijan and serve as a guide to its people, places, culture and events.

About Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB):

Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB) is a national promotion body founded under the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Its main objectives are to support the expansion of Azerbaijan’s tourism industry and persuade visitors to explore the country’s rich cultural offering and experience its ancient heritage.

For more information, visit http://azerbaijan.travel/en/home or follow us on Instagram @experienceazerbaijan.