Ali Masimli: "Showcasing Karabakh's tourism potential will enhance Azerbaijan's image"

"Using the tourism potential of Karabakh is one of the major priorities," Report informs, citing MP Ali Masimli’s speech at the plenary session of the Milli Majlis (parliament) today.

In his view, tourism plays a big role in the development of the non-oil sector: "The display of Karabakh’s tourism potential will enhance Azerbaijan’s image."

In the future, it is planned to organize tourist routes on Fuzuli-Khojavand-Shusha-Lachin, Fuzuli-Jabrayil-Zangilan, Zangilan-Gubadli-Kalbajar-Lachin, Barda-Agdam. Shusha is highly valued in the tourism potential of individual regions. One of the obvious examples of this value is the announcement of Shusha as the capital of Azerbaijani culture by the presidential order at the outset of this year. The organization of cultural events, festivals, presentation of tourism products, international exhibitions, and other cultural events in this city are on the agenda.

In Lachin-Kalbajar, Gubadli-Zangilan, nature, winter, and health tourism will be developed, and in Fuzuli-Agdam-Jabrayil, destroyed cultural institutions and some buildings will be preserved to demonstrate to tourists the aftermath of the occupation. Along with the economic aspect of tourism, there is also a political and propaganda side, which is effective in the experience of world tourism.

There are favorable geographical conditions in all regions of Karabakh, including the south of the country, for the flow of tourists. Tourists from Iran and Turkey are expected to come through Khudafarin and Nakhchivan. There will be an influx of tourists from these two directions to the liberated territories. There are priority bases of Azerbaijani tourism, and upon the instructions and recommendations of the Azerbaijani president, certain agencies are preparing projects in this direction, and necessary measures are being implemented.

At the state level, thanks to the joint efforts of the private sector and scientists, both natural and anthropogenic tourism resources of Nagorno-Karabakh, which started from scratch, are brought up to the agenda. New routes are being created for the development of tourism in the region. Highways meeting international standards are being built along with international airports. As these places are mountainous, mountain and mountaineering tourism are on the focus. In addition, interesting projects have been developed for the development of walking, active and extreme tourism.

There are many thermal water sources in Zangilan. There are historical and religious monuments, a plane tree forest. Therefore, due to its rich nature, the future of Karabakh may be more related to ecotourism. Once used properly, Karabakh is likely to become one of the world's most important eco-tourism destinations.

Khudafarin Bridge and Azikh Cave are considered to be some of the most popular tourist routes in the future. Although our cultural and historical monuments have been destroyed, tours to those destinations will be organized after their restoration. There is a modern Silk Road project. The Kars-Igdir-Nakhchivan route will be created to enter Azerbaijan, and the cost of the tour package will be reduced after the construction of a railway line through Iran.