Azerbaijani tourist sector optimistic

Azerbaijani Minister for Culture and Tourism Abulfaz Garaev stated on March 12 that despite the world financial crisis Azerbaijani tourist inflow will increase 10-12% in 2009. In 2008 the country was visited by 1.899 million tourists. Garaev envisages growth primarily because Baku will become an Islamic cultural centre.

Garaev is sure that the global crisis will not negatively affect the Azerbaijani tourism sector as all the existing projects are still viable and hotel room prices have gone down, thus encouraging tourists to come to Azerbaijan.

11 tourist information centres have started functioning in different regions of Azerbaijan. Maps of tourist sites are available and the centres are facilitating tours. Azerbaijani hotels became the part of world hotel networks.