Azerbaijan, Türkiye explore enhancing tourism cooperation
Baku, April 3, AZERTAC
The 5th meeting of the Azerbaijan–Türkiye Joint Tourism Working Group was held in Antalya, Türkiye.
The meeting focused on the bilateral tourism cooperation, as well as collaboration within international organizations, tourism education, managing coastal areas for tourism purposes, winter, health, and gastronomy tourism, as well as improving the legislative framework for sustainable tourism.
The discussions revolved around the cooperation mechanisms between the public and private sectors, managing regional tourism and cultural heritage, enhancing experience and information exchange in marketing and promotion, and drafting a Joint Action Program for 2026.
The meeting was co chaired by Jalil Malikov, Deputy Head of the Staff and Head of the International Relations Department at the State Tourism Agency, with representatives of specialized tourism industry institutions in attendance.
The meeting reviewed the implementation of the Joint Action Plan for 2025, identifying the priority areas of Joint Action Plan for 2026.
The officials explored cooperation within the UN Tourism, the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), D 8, and the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), also highlighting Azerbaijan's application for Lahij to be nominated as Best Tourism Village by the UN Tourism.
The meeting particularly underscored the announcement of Shusha as the ECO Tourism Capital for 2026.
The meeting also addressed cooperation in COP31, highlighting Azerbaijan’s successful hosting of COP29 in November 2024. It was noted that, for the first time in COP history, tourism was included in the thematic agenda, and an agreement was reached to share Azerbaijan’s experience in this area with Türkiye.
The meeting gathered representatives of the Association of Travel Agencies of Azerbaijan (ATAA), the Azerbaijan Hotel Association (AHA), as well as the Turkish Hotel Association (TUROB) and the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB).
In conclusion, a protocol on cooperation in tourism was inked between the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye.
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