Number of tourists visiting Azerbaijan in 2013 exceeds two million
By Jamila Babayeva
The number of tourists who visited Azerbaijan in 2013 stands at 2.4 million.
The news was announced by Head of Tourism Department of the Culture and Tourism Ministry Aydin Ismiyev at a briefing on the occasion of the 13th International Travel and Tourism Fair held in Baku on April 3-5.
He noted that 2.508 million foreigners arrived at Azerbaijan in 2013.
"If we consider that there were also citizens of foreign countries studying and working in Azerbaijan among the foreigners, then the number of tourists who visited the country stands at 2.4 million," Ismiyev said.
He added that the tourist visiting Azerbaijan spent about $700-800 in a week.
"These expenses were spent on accommodations, food, excursions, etc.," he noted.
Ismiyev went on to say that the number of three- and four-star hotels has increased in Azerbaijan in the last two-three years. "Staying at these hotels costs 60-80 manats a day," he noted.
He said the tourists visiting Azerbaijan usually express interest in all the regions and visit Sheki, Gusar, Shamakhi, Lerik, and Lenkoran.
The ministry is starting to monitor the facilities providing tourist services in order to prepare for the summer tourism season, Ismiyev added.
"Monitoring is currently conducted at the tourist sites of Baku, and they will continue in the next one or two weeks," he said. "Monitoring will be held in regional hotels from the end of May."
He said tourist services in the regions are currently not up to standard, and courses are held for the employees of tourist enterprises in order to solve this problem.
Ismiyev said the ministry intends to consider the creation of apartments to accommodate tourists who arrive at the country.
He believes that the creation of hostels for tourists is unpractical.
"The level of accommodation of tourists in hostels is very low. They can be used only for a night's lodging, which costs almost $15," he noted. "Preference should be given to apartments. We have a lot of new buildings. They can be used for this purpose, as there are spacious and comfortable rooms in these buildings."
Ismiyev said apartments will sign a contract with tourist companies and receive guests, noting that several foreign countries have already adopted this method.