India
country profile
India is one of key target markets for tourism sector in Azerbaijan currently growing in the number of guests, overnight stays and expenditures nestling among top 5 countries visiting Azerbaijan
Significance for Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is an exciting and attractive destination for tourists from India. Indians appreciate Azerbaijan’s open society, hospitality, European styled cities, regular festivals and sport events. It is a land of specific interest for Zoroastrians and accessible Indian cuisine. Indians can reach Azerbaijan directly through Delhi and Mumbai or via Dubai, Abu-Dhabi, Sharjah, Doha, Istanbul and other connection cities.
Main holiday periods
Indians prefer to travel abroad during festivals and long weekends, however international travel bookings are booming even for short weekend trips.
April-May – Families with kids
October-November – Young couples
April-May and October – November individual travelers
November- February – Wedding couples
January-March – honeymooners
The Indian guest
The average Indian traveler generally stays 12-15 days with 75% of them exploring new destinations. It is the world’s largest and fastest growing business travel market as well. Around 30-40% of Indians are vegetarians and majority speak in English.
Information sources: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TripAdvisor, TravelXP, Google, word of mouth, travel agencies.
High online usage: Facebook (30%), YouTube (30%), WhatsApp (28%), Instagram (19%), Google Plus (19%). Having such a large population has created a demand for its own social networking sites (more than 90) with their own features and purposes.
Travel decision: longer trips with 7-10 days are planned at least 2-3 months in advance; shorter trips with 4-5 days are planned around longer weekends, new year and festival holidays.
Means of transport: 98% of the means of transportation to reach destinations abroad are by air.
Main holiday interests: city breaks, family and children’s resorts, sport events, shopping, fun activities and beach vacations.
Activities: sightseeing, going to the Indian restaurants, night clubs, doing shopping, hiking, off-roading, skiing and shootings.
Preferences for destination decision: safety and security, value for money, friendly and good citizens, cold weather, easy visa procedures, English language, Indian cuisine, excellent range of 4-5 stars’ hotels. During booking holidays 36% prefer online and 29% visiting travel agents.
Most visited places: Baku, Absheron, Gusar, Gabala and Sheki
Market strategy
Implementation of marketing strategy for Indian market will be realized by focusing on key trade partners to create a niche for Azerbaijan as a unique, high-quality and affordable product.
Pushing and positioning the country as a safe, beautiful, affordable option for group movements. Inviting agents focusing on leisure,
wedding and MICE and training them on the destination. Familiarization trips for the trade to get a look and feel of the destination.
- Changing perception of the destination and position Azerbaijan
as an exciting and affordable country for family holidays. Azerbaijan is an unexplored destination with its well-developed infrastructure. Involving regional cities of Gabala and Guba in addition to Baku, from tier 1 cities of India.
- With over 15 million weddings each year, the Indian Wedding, Honeymoon and Pre-Wedding Bachelors' Market offers tremendous potential. Azerbaijan already has a wedding environment in its traditions and already good experience with Indian weddings in the country.
- Indians tend to visit places where their country music and movies showcased in positive lights. Azerbaijan has plenty of scenic locations to attract Indian travel shows and TV / web series to be filmed in the country.
Top tips for Indian market
- Free Individual Traveler: over 25 years of age who often travel overseas on business; DINK segment, sport enthusiasts, spa & wellness, wine & gastronomy, cruises and adventure holidays; takes one international holiday and two or three domestic holidays per year; very active on social media and posts pictures while on the trip.
- Group Travelers: usually over 40 years of age who prefers to travel with a group of like-minded individuals; prefer Indian food on tours including vegetarian and non-vegetarian; do not mind travelling long distances on coach buses and flights.
- Corporate market: around 3-4 days; from 15 to 1000 guests; visa facilitation, airline connectivity and conferencing facilities play an important role in the choice of a destination.
- Honeymoon and Wedding market: increased preference for international destinations over domestic; wedding planners influence in deciding the destination and the venue; the entire hotels are typically booked for 5 nights.
Flight connectivity
Azerbaijan Airlines: Delhi-Baku / 3 times per week
Mumbai-Baku / 3 times per week
IndiGo Airlines: Delhi-Baku / 4 times per week
Arrival statistics from India to Azerbaijan for the last 5 years
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
39013 |
65058 |
12769 |
5695 |
60731 |
117302 |
Contact person:
Regional Manager for South Asia
Rovshan Rahimov