WTO, Azerbaijan State Tourism Agency sign an agreement
By Leman Mammadova
In the modern world, tourism is one of the most dynamically developing and profitable sectors of the economy for each country.
The tourism sector accounts for 10 percent of global GDP, and this area has a significant impact on issues of export, investment, infrastructure development and promotion of social integration, stimulates entrepreneurship.
The annual 39th International Tourism Exhibition “FITUR 2019”, which is the largest tourist event, started its work in the Spanish capital Madrid and will end on January 27.
The exhibition of the tourism industry is considered the most important entry into the Latin American market and serves as a global communication platform for developing future strategies with regard to changes in consumer demand and the promotion of tourism business.
Azerbaijan is represented at the international exhibition by a delegation led by the Chairman of Azerbaijan's State Tourism Agency Fuad Nagiyev.
Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (WTO), and Fuad Nagiyev, chairman of the State Tourism Agency, signed an agreement on holding the 110th session of the WTO Executive Council in Baku on January 22, at the WTO headquarters in Madrid within FITUR 2019.
At the meeting, Fuad Nagiyev said that holding this event in our country is important in the development of multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and the WTO, enhancing the image and expanding the tourism potential of Azerbaijan.
Official representatives of more than 40 countries and other guests will have the opportunity to directly get acquainted with the tourist potential and cultural and recreational opportunities of our country.
The Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization Zurab Pololikashvili, in turn, expressed confidence that Azerbaijan would hold the 110th session of the WTO Executive Council at a high level, wished success in its organization.
He noted that the structure led by him is ready to provide all possible support in the development of tourism in Azerbaijan.
The chairman of the State Tourism Agency invited colleagues to visit Azerbaijan, and in accordance with the new slogan of the tourism brand “Azerbaijan - take a fresh look” to get acquainted with our rich history, culture, national cuisine, Azerbaijani friendliness and hospitality.
The State Tourism Agency established under the presidential decree dated April 21, 2018 is an independent entity coordinating the processes in the tourism sector.
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is a specialized intergovernmental agency of the UN system, uniting 158 member countries. UNWTO acts on the basis of the Charter and the Financial Rules attached to it, which entered into force on January 2, 1975.
Being a leading international organization in the field of tourism and travel, the World Tourism Organization is engaged in the development of sustainable and accessible tourism.
Azerbaijan was elected a full member of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) in September 2001. This allowed the country to have the right to vote in the WTO General Assembly, to participate in all the activities of this organization and, by adopting the experience of advanced countries in the field of tourism, integrate into the world family of the tourism community.
Azerbaijan is among the developing countries in the field of tourism, occupying the 39th place among 148 countries in terms of global competitiveness in tourism.
In December 2018, the number of foreign citizens who visited Azerbaijan increased by about one percent compared to the same period in 2017, reaching 2.8 million people.
Azerbaijan aims to develop tourism sphere by all possible means. Sustainable development of the non-oil sector, in particular the tourism sector, is crucial at a time when it is impossible to fully rely on oil and gas industry.
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