Zubair Yaqoob
Karachi
Pakistanis tourists’ population is growing exceptionally in Azerbaijan and among the highest in numbers among different countries of the world, said Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of Azerbaijan Tourism Board talking exclusively to Pakistan Observer.
Azerbaijan welcomed 41, 268 Pakistani travelers in 2018. In January to August of 2019, Azerbaijan has already received 28, 576 Pakistani citizens, which are 12.9 percent increase in comparison to the same period of the last year.
Pakistan tourists’ population is expected to grow by a staggering 50 percent in Azerbaijan considering the consistently attracting interest of the visitors from brotherly Muslim country whereas the overall tourists’ numbers may touch a record level of 4 million by next year, Florian added.
The influx of tourists is immensely high from Russian which is 40 percent of the entire tourists’ population. It is followed by Georgia, China, Middle East countries and Pakistan, of course.
The arrival of Pakistan tourists will increase with the introduction of direct flight between the two countries because their interest is immense to visit religious sites located in different cities of Azerbaijan.
Besides, Pakistani visitors can enjoy an easy visa policy with the newly implemented ASAN visa system as tourists can obtain an e-visa in 3 simple steps from the convenience of their home or mobile devices.
More importantly, an average person can afford to visit Azerbaijan at the average cost of $400 per week meaning $50 a day including cost of food, transportation and hotel expenses, he said and added a decent weekly stay can be managed easily at $200 per week though.
Florian further said the development of tourism and hospitality industry is on the top agenda of the government in spite of the fact 90 percent of the GDP is depended on oil and gas sector.
The tourism in Azerbaijan consists of 3 percent of the GDP having a promising potential to grow. Hence, the government is working towards the development of tourism and hospitality industry within the country and spreading the awareness of the country’s tourism potential across the world.
Looking back 10 years ago, he recalled the country hosted mega event such as Islamic solidarity games, European Games, the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix and UEFA Europa League Final.
The government is investing heavily on the development of infrastructure including the construction of visitor centers, cafeterias, kids’ centers, hotels, toilets and welcome centers in different cities of the country besides its well-established city, Baku hence visitors could spend 3 to 4 hours at different sites to enjoy the scenery.
Among the country’s top attractions is the ancient Ashabi-Kahf. Mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, it attracts thousands of tourists from the Middle East and South Asia to the western territory of Azerbaijan. The natural cave between the mountains of Ilandag sees tens of thousands of pilgrimages to the sacred location each year. Another popular attraction is the iconic UNESCO site of the ancient Ateshgah, a Fire Temple which continues to amaze visitors with its spouts of flame.
Azerbaijan welcomes travelers all throughout the year to enjoy an array of activities during the four seasons. Home to 9 distinct climatic zones, the landscape has attractive weather and almost every kind of geography one could think of. From lush or snowy mountains, beaches, forests, and everything in-between, its natural terrains welcome tourists looking for the diverse scenic beauty and the best landscapes for adventure. Blessed with variety of rich mineral deposits, the country is fast becoming a preferred destination for health and wellness offering world-class spas, traditional hammams and mud baths.
