Abulfas Garayev: "The number of people traveling abroad on holiday from Azerbaijan reached 1 million 450 thousand in 2007"

The inflow of tourists to Azerbaijan increases by 8-15% every year, and in 2007 the number of tourists who visited Azerbaijan reached 1.1 million, said Azerbaijan's Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfas Garayev.

"The number of people traveling abroad on holiday from the country is also increasing, and last year it reached 1.450 million," A. Garayev said on Wednesday at the opening of the traditional 7th Azerbaijan International Travel and Tourism Fair "AITF 2008" and the 2nd hotel industry exhibition "HotelExpo 2008".

According to A. Garayev, Azerbaijan's tourism industry is on the right path of development, and tourism is one of the leading areas in the country's non-oil sector. "The country's President Ilham Aliyev stated this once again the other day, and starting this year various investment projects related to the development of tourism will be implemented in Azerbaijan," he noted.

According to the minister, interest in Azerbaijan's tourism potential is growing every year. "Whereas previously 10 countries took part in the exhibition, today this figure has reached 28," A. Garayev added.

According to him, holding the hotel industry exhibition is no coincidence, as "the hotel business in the country is developing successfully." "Today more than 170 licensed hotels and more than 250 tour operators operate in Azerbaijan," he noted.

day.az