Istanbul: The Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB) officially inaugurated its new representative office in Istanbul, marking a significant step in enhancing tourism ties between Azerbaijan and Trkiye. The event, held on December 9, was attended by key figures including Fuad Naghiyev, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan, Narmin Mustafayeva, Consul General of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Istanbul, and Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, alongside representatives from the tourism industry and media from both countries.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Fuad Naghiyev emphasized that the new office represents a pivotal phase in bilateral cooperation, offering a structured platform for promoting Azerbaijan’s tourism brand in Trkiye. He remarked on the growing interest among Turkish visitors to Azerbaijan, noting that they have ranked second among all foreign visitors over the past five years.
The opening ceremony featured a cultural program where attendees explored future cooperation and strategies to strengthen tourism relations between the nations. The evening was capped off with performances by renowned Azerbaijani pianist and composer Isfar Sarabski.
The Istanbul office aims to foster collaboration with the Turkish tourism sector by managing marketing and media initiatives, organizing events, and engaging with travel agencies and media outlets to showcase Azerbaijan’s tourism offerings. Turkish citizens benefit from the ability to travel to Azerbaijan using their national ID cards, and the availability of regular flights by AZAL and Turkish airlines has led to a significant increase in visitors from Trkiye, tripling the numbers between 2020 and 2024.