Minister vows to shut hotels failing to obtain star rating
Hotels operating in Azerbaijan without an official star rating will
be shut down, Abulfaz Garayev, the Minister of Culture and Tourism,
has said.
He said an investigation would be launched into the operations of such facilities, and businesses that have not lawfully received their advertised rating will be considered illegal.
"The star rating of hotels not granted by the ministry is not deemed official, and the owners of hotels failing to comply with this will face a crackdown," Garayev said.
The minister emphasized that, at times, six stars are attached to hotel buildings, in an indication of ignorance, as those doing so are unaware that such a ranking of hotels is non-existent anywhere in the world.
In countries worldwide, hotels are rated with 2,3,4,5 or 7 stars.
Garayev went on to say that Azerbaijan`s revenues from the tourism sector would amount to $1 billion in 2009.
In 2008, over one million tourists visited the country. An increase in the figure is expected next year due to the declaration of Baku as the symbolic capital of the Islamic nations.
Garayev said the number of hotel rooms available in Azerbaijan would reach 50,000 within the next two to three years. This will allow the Azerbaijan tourism industry to provide services for 1.5 to 2 million tourists annually.
He said an investigation would be launched into the operations of such facilities, and businesses that have not lawfully received their advertised rating will be considered illegal.
"The star rating of hotels not granted by the ministry is not deemed official, and the owners of hotels failing to comply with this will face a crackdown," Garayev said.
The minister emphasized that, at times, six stars are attached to hotel buildings, in an indication of ignorance, as those doing so are unaware that such a ranking of hotels is non-existent anywhere in the world.
In countries worldwide, hotels are rated with 2,3,4,5 or 7 stars.
Garayev went on to say that Azerbaijan`s revenues from the tourism sector would amount to $1 billion in 2009.
In 2008, over one million tourists visited the country. An increase in the figure is expected next year due to the declaration of Baku as the symbolic capital of the Islamic nations.
Garayev said the number of hotel rooms available in Azerbaijan would reach 50,000 within the next two to three years. This will allow the Azerbaijan tourism industry to provide services for 1.5 to 2 million tourists annually.
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