Beach tourism to get boost
The beach season is around the corner and for many this is the end of an impatient wait. Silence brakes on Baku’s beaches usually at the beginning of June. Susurration of the Caspian Sea seduce once more a stream of sun fans.
The sea washes 825 km of Azerbaijan’s shores ranging from the border with Russia to Iran, thus representing a great opportunity for beach tourism, not least for the consequent income. This section of the Caspian is great for seaside holidays; the beach season continues until October, making possible to tan and swim for five months of the year with sunshine practically guaranteed.
To develop this field in the country and attract more tourists in this shiny season President Ilham Aliyev signed an executive order approving an action plan on the development of beach tourism for 2017-2020.
The order aims to ensure more effective use of the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian sea to improve tourism industry.
The action plan outlines measures to be taken in order to develop beach tourism in Azerbaijan, including the establishment and improvement of infrastructure on the beaches, coordination of beach operators, provision of security and environmental protection measures, creation of data base on beaches and encouragement of beach tourism.
Meanwhile, hotels in Azerbaijan have already been booked since March ahead of the world significant events to be held in the capital this spring and summer.
Muzaffar Agakarimov, the adviser of the Chairman of Azerbaijani Tourism Association AzTA said that so dynamic reservation is connected with the First Shopping Festival to be held from April 10 to May 10 in Baku and followed by the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games and Formula 1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan.
The expert said that the country expects to welcome tourists not only from Arab countries, but also from Iran, Russia and European countries.
"Most rooms in hotels, especially in branded hotels, have already been booked," said AzTA chairman's adviser.
Agakarimov noted that most places in the hotels for April-May are booked by tourists from Arab countries.
"Conducting a shopping festival is important in terms of attracting tourists to the country. Therefore, travel agencies and hotels should seriously prepare for the forthcoming festival and competitions and develop additional programs for tourists," he said.