SMBDA chief calls for more attention to promoting agritourism in Azerbaijan

Chairman of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) under the Azerbaijani Ministry of Economy Orkhan Mammadov believes that the promotion of agritourism, which is a new direction in Azerbaijan, should be given special attention, Report informs.

Mammadov was speaking at a seminar on the development of rural areas and the creation of a national agritourism system in Azerbaijan.

He said that cooperation and coordination between various stakeholders in the agritourism value chain is important: “I consider it important to create a regular discussion platform for developing new projects, solving problems and combining efforts. It is necessary to implement comprehensive measures to attract local and foreign investors to this sphere. In addition to the training of entrepreneurs and facilities in the relevant field, there is a serious need to expand distribution channels. Tour operators should develop interesting packages of services and formulate new marketing policies.”

The head of the agency expressed hope that the discussions and exchange of views during the seminar would bring useful results for the development of the agritourism sector: “I am sure that our joint efforts will make it possible to maximize the potential of the agritourism sector and increase its share in Azerbaijan’s economy.”