1st Azerbaijan-Turkey Online Tourism Forum took place
On May 22, 2020, the 1st Azerbaijan-Turkey Online Tourism Forum was held with the organization of Azerbaijan Health and Thermal Tourism Support Association and the Skal International Baku Club and with the support of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Dogan GeoTermal Hattusa Vacations Club. An online forum on “Development of alternative types of tourism between Azerbaijan and Turkey in the post-pandemic period. The concept of creating security corridors, health and thermal tourism activities ” was attended by Turkey’s Doğan Geothermal Group and Hattuşa Vacation Thermal Club Chairman of the Board of Directors Mehmet Ali Doğan, Doğan Geothermal Group Director General Tolgay Benderli, Geothermal Fund, board of investors and marketers association and the others.
Azerbaijan was represented by MP Vugar Bayramov, Director of the Institute of Petrochemical Processes named after Y. Mammadaliyev, academician Vagif Abbasov, President of the Azerbaijan Health and Thermal Tourism Support Association Ruslan Guliyev, Executive Director Tarlan Guliyev, President of Skal International Baku Club Jeyhun Ashurov, representative of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and KOBIA Asif Jafarov, representative of the Azerbaijan Entrepreneurs Confederation Narmin Ganiyeva and representatives of health resorts.
Welcoming the guests, Ruslan Guliyev briefed the participants on the possible potential and development of tourism and health tourism between Azerbaijan and Turkey. Then, the President of the Skal International Baku Club Jeyhun Ashurov expressed his views on the current state of the sector during the pandemic and the situation that may occur during the post-pandemic. Mehmet Ali Doğan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Doğan Geothermal Group and Hattuşa Vacation Thermal Club, stressed that Azerbaijan is an important tourist destination for Turkey, as well as a favorable and fraternal country for Turkish businessmen to invest. Introducing Hattuşa Vacation Club hotels and timesharing, Tolgay Benderli said hotels were over 80% full during the pandemic. He said that the timesharing program, called a special sales mechanism, will soon be applied to Azerbaijani hotels. Following the meeting in the Milli Majlis, Vugar Bayramov spoke about the decisions to increase economic relations and investment turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkey. Elmar Agayev, General Manager of Lankaran Spring Resort Hotel, made a presentation of the hotel and informed the participants about the health tourism potential of the region and the hotel. Also, dermatologist of Gashalti Naftalan Sanatorium Rena Kangarli made a presentation on sanatorium treatment and the potential of Naftalan.
Representatives of more than 60 sectors also took part in the forum, where questions and opinions were exchanged.
In conclusion, AHTTSA Executive Director Tarlan Guliyev said that the two countries will continue to strengthen the development of tourism and health through forums, conferences and investments, and made proposals to take the necessary steps to develop domestic tourism in the post-pandemic period.