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Azerbaijan Braces For More Tourists After 2017's Record Inflow

By Gunay Hajiyeva January 15, 2018

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Azerbaijan’s Culture and Tourism Ministry said 2017 was a record year for inbound tourism to the country – with 2.7 million tourists. / Gilan Holding

The Caspian region’s “land of fire,” Azerbaijan, was set ablaze with tourists in 2017, and numbers are expected to grow in 2018.

2017 was a record year for inbound tourists flocking to the South Caucasus country, situated on the western shore of the Caspian Sea, according to data provided by Azerbaijan’s Culture and Tourism Ministry. Roughly 2.7 million visitors passed through its airports and ports of call, with most coming from Russia, Georgia and Iran. They formed 1.7 million of the total, up 14 percent from 2016 figures. Russians topped the chart with 853,000 visitors to Azerbaijan, a seven percent increase from the year before.

Officials in Baku are expecting an even greater influx this year, meaning hotels and restaurants in popular destinations such as Baku, Shahdag, Gabala, and Sheki can expect a record year of business.

Bounded by the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains, Azerbaijan lies within a subtropical zone that affects its climate. Of the 11 different types of climate possible in the world, nine occur within Azerbaijan, a country slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Maine.

Once a part of the ancient Silk Road, the famed trade route that linked China and Europe, the country boasts a range of historical, state-protected monuments and archaeological finds. Among them are the Zoroastrian fire temple called Atashgah, located in Baku; Khan’s Palace in Sheki; and the Mausoleum of Nakhchivan, believed to contain relics of the Biblical prophet Noah.

Aiming to boost tourism, the government is keen on developing country’s transport network. The country’s railways carried more than two million passengers, both internally and internationally, from January to October last year, representing a 25.7 percent increase compared to 2016, according to data provided by the State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan in November.

Baku has already announced plans to build railway route that will bring tourists to one of the most ancient and picturesque regions of Azerbaijan, Gabala.

“Today, Gabala is the second touristic center in Azerbaijan after Baku, and of course, laying of the railway to Gabala will further accelerate the flow of tourists,” President Ilham Aliyev said while addressing a meeting of the cabinet of ministers last Wednesday.

Located in the north of Azerbaijan, Gabala is known for its temperate climate. Because of the excellent weather year-round, both winter and summer tourism is well developed. Last year, more than 200,000 travelers, mostly from Europe and Asia, arrived in Gabala to ride roller coasters, play laser tag, join go-cart racing, as well ski in the snow-capped Tufandag Mountain. Those wanting to visit the region can get there by plane or by bus, which operates from the Baku International Bus Terminal.

Shahdag Mountain Resort, which is very popular with tourists, is also expected to attract more visitors after the reconstruction of the Baku-Yalama railway route, which stretches northwards to Russia. After renovation, the railway will link Yalama, a village and municipality in the country’s Khachmaz region, and Qusar, located 30 km (19 mi) away from the resort.

With a range of luxury accommodation hotels, individual chalets, small cottages and open-air camping facilities, the resort has attracted 135,000 tourists in 2017. Travelers mostly come to enjoy mountain biking, zip lining, horse riding, quad biking, paintballing and bob karts.