Azerbaijan, Türkiye explore boosting tourism cooperation

Türkiye and Azerbaijan have signed a tourism cooperation protocol to explore ways of boosting tourism and enhancing collaboration within international entities. 

The 5th meeting of the Azerbaijan–Türkiye Joint Tourism Working Group, held in Antalya, focused on bilateral tourism cooperation, collaboration within international organizations and tourism education, managing coastal areas for tourism purposes, winter, health, and gastronomy tourism.

Ways of improving the legislative framework for sustainable tourism were also discussed, according to Azerbaijan’s state news agency. 

The discussions emphasized on cooperation mechanisms between the public and private sectors, managing regional tourism and cultural heritage, enhancing experience and information exchange in marketing and promotion, and drafting a joint action program for 2026.

The officials explored cooperation within the UN Tourism, the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), D 8, and the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).

The meeting also addressed cooperation in COP31, the 31st session of the climate change conference to be held in Turkiye later this year. Azerbaijan hosted COP29 in November 2024. 

It was noted that, for the first time in COP history, tourism was included in the thematic agenda, and an agreement was reached to share Azerbaijan’s experience in this area with Türkiye.