World Bank expert: Azerbaijan's tourism fails to fully use its potential

Azerbaijan's main challenge in tourism is not a lack of attractiveness but the failure to fully utilize its existing potential, Shaun Mann, Tourism Development Specialist at the World Bank, stated, Report informs.

Speaking at the event, Unlocking Azerbaijan's Tourism Potential for Economic Growth and Diversification, in Baku, Mann noted that Azerbaijan's rich historical heritage and tourism resources are not being used effectively.

"Baku has been successfully developed as a tourism destination. However, the next major task for the country is to create competitive tourism destinations outside the capital. Just as Bali became a key hub for Indonesia and Reykjavik for Iceland, those countries later expanded to other destinations. For Azerbaijan, the challenge is not to keep tourists only in Baku but to offer them a Baku+ experience," he said.

The official added that extending tourists' length of stay and increasing visits to the regions could play a crucial role in boosting tourism revenues.