Tourism in Azerbaijan

Tourism in Azerbaijan Name Affiliation/Institution Date Tourism in Azerbaijan Introduction According to USA International Business Publications, (2008), Azerbaijan is located in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. It is bound on the east by the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains. Due to its mountainous nature, only 7% of the land is arable. Its capital is Baku. According to World Bank (2015) the country has a population of more than 9 million people. According to Azerbaijan Export & Investment Promotion Foundation (2013), Azerbaijani is the state official language and it is spoken by majority of the people. Other languages spoken in the region include Russian and Armenia. Islam is the prevailing religion where 9.4% of the people are Muslims. Impact of the Soviet Union on tourism Croissant (1998) states that Azerbaijan became a Soviet Socialist in 1920. By 1940s, Azerbaijan SSR was supplying the Soviet Union with gas and oil during the war with the Nazi Germany. From 1970 to 1980s was marked by a time when tourism became popular and massive. By the time the country gained independence in early 1990s, the Soviet Union had made some investments in the tourism which have enabled the industry to grow significantly. Planners from the Union made massive investments in the construction of tourism facilities like hotels, museums, and transport facilities. As a result, Azerbaijan became a significant tourist destination in the Soviet Union. The assets from the investments have helped the country advance after gaining independence. Forms of tourism The country is rich in historical, natural and cultural heritage which attracts visitors from all over the world. The sector is expanding day by day as tourists have a variety of places to visit. Over the years, the government has initiated projects aimed at promoting tourism in the region. This has led to the development of various forms of tourism to allow visitors a wide variety of attractions. Water tourism Frappi and Garibov (2014) state that the Caspian Sea is one of the largest tourist attraction in the region. The lake is large in area and volume covering an area of approximately 3.5 sq.km. The Caspian has some unusual features which visitors find attractive. Firstly, its level is lower than the mean sea level. It is not a freshwater lake because it does not have an outlet but its water is less concentrated three times than that of the World Ocean. This makes it favorable for the tourists who love swimming because it has less irritation on their eyes and it does not dry the skin. Secondly, the lake is not homogeneous as it is made up of three bodies that are united within the bounders. Each of the three water bodies is diverse with different physical and biological conditions. This allows for visitors to have access to a diverse scenery and carry out various activities like fishing and boat trips. The availability of this lake has made the country a center for coastal tourism in the region. Mountain tourism The country lies in a mountainous area which makes it an ideal destination for the tourists who enjoy such places. The Caucasus Mountains provide an opportunity for visitors to explore the area. The peak of the Caucasus range is Mount Shahdag which is located in Gusar near to the border with Russia. The peak is 4243m above the sea level and provided an opportunity for mountain climbers to explore the region. Tourists come to this part to attempt to climb to the top of the peak. The mountains also have natural beauty with deep ravines and pristine glaciers which show the splendor of the region. Skiing tourism The Shahdag region has one of the largest ski resorts. The climate in the region is favorable and ranges from as low as -200C during winter to 200C in the summer. The low temperatures allow for winter sports like skiing. The region has more than 19 ski slopes where tourists can ski 2500m above the sea level. The slopes are well prepared for the game. Shahdag ski resort is popular for accommodating a large number of tourists interested in the sport. The resort has developed its ski school to train people on how to ski hence beginners find it a suitable place to learn the game. Tourists come in large numbers, both beginners and advanced skiers to train in the game. Baku city The city is ancient with a rich history yet it has gone modern. It has both ancient and modern architecture which blends well to give the city its uniqueness. The city has old buildings like the Shirvanshah Palace and the Maiden Tower which was built in the 12th century as well as modern buildings like the Flame Tower complex which is made up of three buildings (Bloom & Blair 2009). Additionally, the city has ultra-modern Crystal Hall which held the Eurovision-2012. The city has both the ancient architecture as well as modern structures existing together which attracts many visitors to the city. Horseback tourism Traveling on horseback is one of the admired activities in the country. In Sheki city which is 305km from Baku, is a destination for the tourists who enjoy riding on horses (Hudman & Jackson 2003). Here, tourists have an opportunity to observe horse games and also take part in them. There is an option where they can ride a horse or first be trained by a coach. The city allows tourists to ride horses while they travel to the different parts of the city to see the historical sites. Visitors ride the horses accompanied by instructors who direct them and help them understand the historical sited in the region. Pedestrian tourism Apart from horse riding, tourists can decide to walk across the cities. According to (Hudman & Jackson 2003), most of the heart of Baku city is pedestrian only. Tourists walk to visit most of the places which allow them to see many features. Pedestrian tourism brings a lot of fun to the visitors who get a chance to move along one of the oldest places in the region. Cultural tourism It is the most promising form of travel providing more than six thousand historical as well as cultural sites. The government has preserved these sites and still continues to restore other relevant sites. The country aims at conserving its cultural inheritance and promote it around the world through festivals. In 2012, Baku city hosted "Eurovision" international song contest which attracted over 6000 people (Azerbaijan Export & Investment Promotion Foundation, 2013). Today, Azerbaijan has become a cultural center of the world. A large number of individuals come to acquaint themselves with the national history and the ancient culture. The country has a rich culture which is reflected in the Museums, especially in Baku. The museums have significant collections of materials with excellent displays. The museums are rich in collections which showcase the history and culture of the people. Here visitors can learn more about the ancient culture of the region as they interact with the various objects. Additionally, the charges to the museums for the visitors are fair which attracts a large number of people. Recreational tourism The country is rich in hot and mineral springs which are used as alternative methods for treatment of illness. The natural materials such as the salt mines and thermal waters are used to treat skin and urological diseases (Azerbaijan Export & Investment Promotion Foundation, 2013). The Naftalan oil found in the region is considered to treat a variety of conditions. Hence, tourists coming to experience these recreational facilities has been increasing. Business tourism The country is developing at a higher rate with a favorable environment to do business. A report by (Azerbaijan Export & Investment Promotion Foundation, 2013) asserts that the country hosts many international exhibitions and conferences. With the economy developing drastically, business tourism has been on the rise. The country has been a host of popular forums such as the World Economic Forum which has bring people from different parts of the world. Importance Tourism has become one of the fundamental sources of income for the Azerbaijan government. With the decreasing prices of oil, oil producing countries have been forced to adapt and focus more on their non-oil sectors. Azerbaijan laid better foundations for growth not only in the oil industry but also in tourism and hence its recent success in the area. The tourism industry has given the country an alternative with regards to its sources of revenue and thus far the government’s investment in the sector has paid off. As of 2014, Azerbaijan’s GNI per capita according to the World Bank was $16,920. This figure was 5,240 less that of Russia, but pundits expect this gap to decrease due to the resilience, determination, and commitment that is depicted by the Azerbaijan government. The general feeling is that the state of 9.417 million people has a lot to offer in the tourism sector mainly because it is uniquely endowed. Below is an elucidation of the significance of the tourism industry in Azerbaijan. Reduction of unemployment First of all, the tourism sector has helped the nation to fight and reduce the unemployment rate (Mammadov, 2012). With tourism comes the construction of new hotels, construction of transportation networks, as well as security upgrades. Maintenance of the tourist attraction sites, as well as hotel services to the visitors, are all job opportunities that are created as a result of the development of the tourism sector. Since 2000, the country’s unemployment rate has been decreasing because the government’s revamping of the tourism sector has helped to create many jobs for the natives....