Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

The development of tourism infrastructure and implementation of large-scale construction projects in Azerbaijan will create favorable conditions for the development of passenger transport in the Caspian Sea, a source in Azerbaijan's transport sector told Trend news agency on August 29.

According to the source, currently the passenger transport in the Caspian Sea is underdeveloped. However, there is vast potential for using this segment of the transport sector.

"In particular, the implementation of such large-scale projects on the Azerbaijani coast of the Caspian Sea as Aypara shopping and hotel complex and the residential complex Khazar Islands can revive the tourism industry in the Caspian, thus creating conditions for the development of water transport," it said.

The implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects in Azerbaijan can be the catalyst for the development of the sea passenger transport in the Caspian, the source said.

"The development of the tourism industry in Baku, along with the revival of passenger traffic among the Caspian countries, can also have a positive impact on the development of such type of the water transport in Azerbaijan as sea taxi," the source said.

Another direction can be arranging cruises in the Caspian littoral states.

"In particular, there are opportunities for the organization and development of cruises of vessels from the Mediterranean and the Black Sea by the canal system to the Caspian countries during the navigation season," the source said.

Currently, international passenger transport in the Caspian by ferries is carried out only through the Baku-Aktau (Kazakhstan) and Baku-Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan) routes.

Earlier, Iran planned to restore the sea passenger transportation between the Iranian trading port of Anzali and the Baku port. This passenger line operated for a long time and was temporarily closed in 1998. However, the sides have not been able to restore the route.

Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is the largest port in the Caspian Sea. It is possible to sail from Baku to Russia, Central Asia as well as the Anzali port of Iran.

Also, Azerbaijan has access to the ocean -- via the Caspian Sea-Volga river-Volga-Don Canal-Don River-Azov Sea. Besides the Volga-Don Canal, Azerbaijani ships have direct access to the world ocean via the Volga-Baltic and Baltic-White Sea canals.

Earlier the advisor of Azerbaijan Tourism Association (AzTA) chairman, Muzaffar Agakerimov, told the local press that AzTA offers to create a wondrous tourist route along the Volga River.

According to Agakerimov, the proposal has been brought to the attention of Astrakhan Shipping Company. Talks on implementing the proposal are underway.