Azerbaijan 's charming nature, favorable geographic location, cultural and historical heritage, fine cuisine, traditions of hospitality open great prospects for tourism development. Approval of a plan of measures in connection with announcing 2011 the Year of Tourism, the measures provided for tourism development in Azerbaijan have been concretized. The action plan includes activities on cultural tourism, improving managerial and regulatory framework, bringing tourism services into conformity with the international standards, forming infrastructure of investment and tourism, personnel and scientific support, protection, restoration and use of cultural and historical monuments, propaganda and agitation, support of folk art.
A new draft law on tourism has been prepared and will soon be submitted to the Parliament of Azerbaijan. The new bill has already been considered by the Cabinet and sent for confirmation to the Ministry of Justice. The new law on tourism will create additional opportunities for development in this field.
The new law will create conditions for the expansion of tourism infrastructure, increasing the number of facilities for tourists, turning cultural facilities into tourism facilities, help develop tourism in the region and expand tourism.
Azerbaijan is interested in attracting tourists from neighboring countries and European states. The tourist markets of America, East and South Asia, Middle East and the Pacific Basin countries is also potential for Azerbaijan.
To promote the tourism potential, every year Azerbaijan's Ministry is involved in about 20 exhibitions in the leading countries of the world. In addition, about 50 advertising materials are published in nine languages, which are distributed to visitors at the traditional festivals for tourism, which take place in Istanbul, Berlin, Moscow, Beijing, Tokyo, Milan, London, Kuwait, Kiev, Tbilisi, Tashkent and other cities. In addition, a website - www.azerbaijan.tourism.az - has been created to get acquainted with the tourism potential of Azerbaijan.
Advertising reels on the tourism potential of Azerbaijan are constantly displayed on TV world leading channels such as EuroNews, Travel Channel, CNN, National Geographic, BBC and CNBC. In addition, each year in April, Baku hosts Azerbaijan International Tourism and Travel Fair (AITF) and Domestic Tourism Exhibition.
In order to promote the tourism potential of Azerbaijan in the world, constantly info-tours are organized for media representatives and travel agencies in Germany, Austria, Turkey, Japan, Egypt, Kuwait, Morocco, Greece and other countries.