Travel services for Azerbaijanis abroad increased
By Nigar Orujova
The travel services provided for Azerbaijanis abroad have increased by 24.4 percent compared to the first quarter of 2013.
This was said at the balance of payments posted on the website of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan.
According to the balance, these travel services amounted to $ 814.3 million. Over 64 percent of this amount was spent for personal services.
The balance also shows that services worth $ 2.5 billion were provided by non-residents to residents of Azerbaijan.
During this period, residents of Azerbaijan had provided services worth $ 1.1 billion for the residents of foreign countries.
Over 11 percent accounted to transport services at the balance of counter services. The total transport services were rendered to $ 419.7 million.
Some 45 percent falls on the usage of transport systems of foreign countries by Azerbaijani residents.
In this January-March, the cost of tourist services provided for foreigners visiting Azerbaijan totaled to $ 606.8 million, 33.5 percent of these services were provided for non-residents visiting Azerbaijan on business trips.
Azerbaijani tourists prefer visiting Turkey, as well as Greece and Montenegro during the summer seasons. Last year, the number of Azerbaijani tourists in Turkey was 600,000, while this year it is expected to increase and reach 700,000.
Azerbaijani tourists who prefer resting abroad starts their trips from mid-June. Turkey is the most attractive place for Azerbaijani tourists because of cultural similarities and lack of language barrier. Moreover, the level of tourist services is high in the neighboring country.
Azerbaijani Airlines (AZAL) also plans to start operating seasonal direct flights to Turkish resort towns, including Antalya, Bodrum, and Izmir.
Azerbaijanis who prefer summer rest at the seaside spend their times in Antalya, Kemer, and Bodrum.