07 Mar 2024
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Azerbaijan is set to participate in ITB Berlin, one of the world's leading travel trade shows, which will take place from March 5th to 7th, 2024. Together with 14 industry partners, including Azerbaijan Airlines, hotels and tourism agencies, Azerbaijan is presenting a myriad of travel experiences. These encompass everything from its rich cultural heritage and UNESCO sites to hiking through lush landscapes and delicious local cuisine. Highlighting the significance of the exhibition, Nasimi Aghayev, the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Germany, Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the UNWTO, and Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council, also visited the stand.
Visitors to Azerbaijan’s stand will have the chance to immerse themselves in Azerbaijan's rich tourism offerings through different interactive experiences. Everyone is welcome to enjoy tastings of Azerbaijani wine and national sweets available all three days at the national stand. Additionally, ATB offers an exciting VR experience that transports visitors to the wonders of Azerbaijan, allowing them to explore our breath-taking landscapes and vibrant culture first-hand.
"We are thrilled to return to ITB Berlin and have the opportunity to promote Azerbaijan's tourism potential, as well as share our tourism updates with such a diverse audience. In 2023, we saw a significant recovery in international tourist arrivals, with 2,086,443 visitors. Despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic, our efforts in revitalizing the tourism sector have been successful, achieving approximately 70% of our pre-pandemic tourist arrival numbers, with some markets already reaching above 2019 benchmark.” said Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board. "Our strategic approach aims to not only increase tourist arrivals but to diversify tourism offerings and expand into new international markets. Such an approach supports us in adapting tourism experiences and products to suit new markets while also ensuring existing markets are exposed to various aspects of Azerbaijan, thereby deepening their understanding of the destination.”
Sustainable tourism plays a pivotal role in ATB's strategy, catering to the expectations of modern travellers, preserving and enhancing Azerbaijan's resources. Collaborative initiatives with industry partners have led to the development of hiking routes, birdwatching excursions, wine tourism and butterfly watching experiences to be available soon across Azerbaijan. Notably, Azerbaijan has this year taken a step to join Slow Wine initiatives with its debut at the “Slow Wine Fair”, emphasizing the tradition of community winemaking. Moreover, in 2021 Azerbaijan launched the Slow Food Travel (SFT) project, to safeguard traditional cooking methods and endangered products. Now, tourists can immerse themselves in Azerbaijan’s gastronomical experiences in the north-western region, engaging with local partners and their offerings. It is planned to expand this project further south this year. Additionally, efforts to preserve the UNESCO-inscribed cultural landscape of Khinalig village and the 'Köç Yolu' transhumance route underscore the commitment to safeguarding infrastructure, culture, and traditions. Similarly, birdwatching tourism is blossoming thanks to Azerbaijan's rich biodiversity, highlighting the importance of conservation for community benefit.
At the stand, guests can learn more about Azerbaijan's diverse tourism offerings, including more of the UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Old City of Baku and the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, and the Sheki Historic Centre in the north-west. While Baku offers a vibrant city life with
its museums and trendy bars, the regions beckon tourists with opportunities for hiking in lush nature and picturesque vineyards. With top-notch infrastructure including the Skytrax 5-star rated Baku International Airport, chain hotels, iconic Flame Towers, and premier facilities like the Baku Congress Centre and Heydar Aliyev Centre, Azerbaijan is primed to welcoming all types of tourists.
The demand from German travellers is facilitated by e-visa, which can be obtained from evisa.gov.az within 3 days, and the availability of non-stop flights, allowing travellers to reach the largest city in the Caucasus region in approximately 4 hours. Direct flights from Berlin and Frankfurt are available through Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), which operates twice and four times a week, with Lufthansa also offering direct flights from Frankfurt four times a week.