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 th...