CULTURE
Baku hosts conference on border area tourism
Baku, December 9 (AZERTAC). An international conference on development prospects of border area tourism was held in Azerbaijan`s capital.
Speaking in the event, head of tourism department of Azerbaijan`s Ministry of Culture and Tourism Aydin Ismiyev said that 50-55% tourists visiting Azerbaijan come from Russia, Georgia, Iran, and Turkey. He added that about 2 mln tourists visit Azerbaijan every year, noting Azerbaijani government`s goal is to increase number of tourists up to 5 mln till 2015.
In their speeches representatives of the Georgian, Russian and Turkish delegation stressed that the conference is ‘significance event’ to discuss joint projects, sea voyages, historical-cultural relations, and underscored Azerbaijan has great opportunities for development of tourism.
The first session of the meeting heard reports on “Interstates cooperation on border area tourism sphere: current situation and prospects”
The second part saw discussions on “Intercultural relations and development of alternative forms of tourism” and “Cooperation among the universities in tourism sphere”.
The participants signed Baku Declaration on border area tourism development.