The Ministry of Tourism of Azerbaijan opened its Tourism Representative Office with a ceremony held in Istanbul. At the opening ceremony of the Office to be executed by Ms. Nurlana Çakmak, H.E. Ganire Paşayeva – the Member of Parliament of Azerbaijan, Dr. Akkan Suver, Mr Şamil Ayrım and Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı were present as well.

Azerbaijan opened its tourism representative office in Turkey within the scope of the promotional activities in the tourism sector. Ms Nurlana Çakmak, the tourism representative of Azerbaijan to Turkey said: ‘We call out to the whole Turkish people to visit Azerbaijan’.

Azerbaijan, proclaiming 2016 as the year of Tourism, began with the worldwide publicity in the tourism sector by opening a tourism representation in Turkey.

During the opening cocktail held at the Intercontinental Hotel Ms Nurlana Çakmak – Tourism representative of Azerbaijan to Turkey, H.E. Mr Nazim Samedov – Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr Nahid Bağırov – President of the Tourism Union of Azerbaijan and H.E. Ganire Paşayeva –Member of Parliament were also present. Ms Nurlana Çakmak, proceeding from the slogan ‘Visit Azerbaijan’, our aim is to upgrade our present relations with Turkey. The promotion carried out on state level targets greater public masses.

With the slogan of ‘Visit Azerbaijan’, we are going to realise our opening. The whole Turkish public is invited to visit Azerbaijan as well. We have everything to meet the expectations of the Turkish tourist.

 ‘AZERBAIJAN IS AS PRETTY AS TURKEY’

H.E. Ganire Paşayeva – MP of Azerbaijan, wishing all the best for the project, says that it is very important for us, Azerbaijan, to open a tourism representation in our brother country Turkey. We attach great importance to provide our Turkish brothers with more information related to the possibilities of Azerbaijan and urge our brothers to visit our country. We highly recommend our brothers in Turkey to come and visit Azerbaijan. Because Azerbaijan is as pretty as Turkey as well. We are a rich country in terms of our history, culture, cuisine, music and holiday options. We strongly believe that those who have not been to Azerbaijan before will be delighted to visit the country. From that reason, the enlargement of the tourism potential and also of some other fields of Azerbaijan is essential.  From my point of view, the enhancement of relations on tourism between Azerbaijan and Turkey is also cardinal.

Mme. Paşayeva underlying the importance of incoming tourists from Istanbul and other parts of Turkey. ‘At the same time, Turkey, Istanbul is a gateway opening to the world.’ At this point, with our representation in Turkey, Turkish people will be advised of the potential and beauty the Azerbaijan enjoying; in this sense, more tourists will be urged to travel to Azerbaijan by means of a vast cooperation with the tourism companies over Istanbul.

I invite our brothers in Turkey to Azerbaijan. It is crucial that they visit there. When they have come to Azerbaijan, they would think are a little bit late. They would wish that they should have been there earlier.

In our opinion, this issue is not a means for making money. The enlargement of tourism is important for better knowledge of country, culture and people. It is very important in terms of intercultural dialogue. For better understanding of people from diverse ethnicity and religious community without prejudice.  

Knowing each other very well, knowing people well is the most important means. This is also cardinal for the development of tourism. That’s why we are inviting our brothers in Turkey. We have a representation in Istanbul. We believe that we will encourage more people from Turkey to visit Azerbaijan’’.  

‘’WE WANTED THESE BEAUTIES SHOULD REACH TURKISH TOURISTS’’

Nazım Mamedov – Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan stated that this would be the fourth representation Azerbaijan founding abroad. Samedov, ‘’this indicates that the relations of Turkey-Azerbaijan will experience a shift. Before that, the tourists of Azerbaijan had come to Turkey. Turkish citizens used to go to Azerbaijan on business purposes. Now, Azerbaijan will be more colourful and more diversely represented to the Turkish market. Azerbaijan is not only the location of business venue. It has huge tourism possibilities such as mountain, sightseeing and civilisation. We wished these beauties should reach Turkish Tourists.