Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Development of all kinds of tourism is on focus in Azerbaijan today. The country is taking a lot of measures to make the tourism one of the profitable areas of the national economy.

The country has already made decisive steps in this direction, simplifying visa procedure and switching to issuing electronic-visa regime.

Representative of the tourism committee of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Farid Isayev offers to reduce types of visas issued in Azerbaijan up to three.

He made the remark at the round table on the theme "Support of the American Chamber of Commerce of economic reforms carried out in Azerbaijan".

“Currently, we have too many types of visas, therefore we believe it is necessary to leave only three of them including “Tourist visa", "work visa" and "other visas". The category of "other visa" can be used by foreigners who, for example, come to Azerbaijan for medical treatment. The requirements for obtaining a visa should be simple and universal,” he said.

Isayev offered to reduce the number of days required to obtain a “work visa”.

“Now this period is only five days, but in practice, the visa process can take longer. After all, the main thing for business is efficiency, what is so important to entrepreneurs,” he emphasized.

The expert stressed if the government wants to attract investors, it is necessary to assist them in obtaining visas.

Isayev said that AmCham proposes to expand the list of countries with which Azerbaijan has visa-free regime.

“Currently, this system is applied for the CIS countries. However, Kazakhstan, for example, has canceled the visa regime for Arab countries. We should study this experience and extend the abolition of the visa regime for the non-CIS countries,” he added.

Isayev noted that Azerbaijan should also determine the platforms to promote the country as a tourist destination.

“Naturally, we would like to attract tourists from all over the world, but we need to understand how to do it, and to conduct propaganda in this direction. It is also necessary to prepare the strategy and concept of tourism development. In all countries where tourism is well developed, there is a corresponding doctrine. For example, in Turkey, such a doctrine existed in the 1980s, and today we see that the Turkish economy is earning billions in tourism. It is also important, this concept to be prepared by not only with the involvement of international experts, but also to be put to public discussion,” he underlined.

He thinks, it’s better to create a working group involving companies and individuals interested in the development of tourism.

Isayev also touched upon the issue of return of foreign low-cost airlines to Azerbaijan.

Earlier, Hungary’s WizzAir and Turkish Pegasus companies reported they will restore the flights to Azerbaijan.

Calling it as a positive factor, he mentioned that these companies, however, represent only one segment of the business.

“It’s necessary to prepare a proposal for the other segments. We propose the introduction of certain benefits and competitors stable rates that other companies were interested in entering the Azerbaijani market,” said the general manager.

He also offered to improve the statistics system in tourism.

“Azerbaijan is visited by enough tourists, but in practice we see that citizens who come into the country for tourism purposes, get namely a tourist visa. The reason is that receiving tourist visa is easier. As a result, we see that the number of tourists increased, but in practice it cannot determine who and why arrived in the country," Isayev emphasized.

--

Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz