The summer season is approaching. Thousands of people are starting to make vacation plans. Changes in prices, the accessibility of tourism packages, and interest in new destinations remain the main topics of discussion this year as well.
Which will be the most affordable vacation spots for Azerbaijani citizens this summer? Among domestic tourism routes, which regions are more accessible in terms of price? What changes have been observed in the prices of tourism packages compared to last year? Which regions might local tourists prefer the most this summer?
Speaking to Medianews.az on the subject, tourism expert Emil Aliyev stated that currently, tourism is somewhat different compared to previous years. According to him, the war and geopolitical tensions in the region directly affect both the flow of tourists and prices: “Especially due to the increase in aviation fuel prices, there is an average increase of 40-60 dollars in plane tickets on many routes. This inevitably affects the overall prices of tourism packages. Despite this, for Azerbaijani citizens, the most affordable destinations this summer remain Turkey, Egypt, and certain European cities.”
Turkey is among the favored destinations for tourists due to its proximity, visa-free regime, and a wide selection of “all inclusive” hotels.
Egypt is also considered an affordable choice for family vacations because of the “all inclusive” system and reasonable prices. Recently, there has been an observed increase in interest in cruise tours.
Although there was a certain decrease in the UAE and Qatar directions in previous months, the situation has now stabilized and ticket sales have increased again. The stabilization of flight and security conditions in the region has begun to attract tourists’ attention to these directions.
As for domestic tourism, Gabala, Guba, Sheki, Ismayilli, and Lankaran stand out as particularly accessible regions in terms of price. People prefer both proximity to nature and short-distance trips. Especially in the summer months, interest in mountain and regional hotels increases. At the same time, it should be noted that the war situation has also affected the number of foreign tourists coming to Azerbaijan. Currently, tourists mainly come from CIS countries. There is a decrease in tourist flow from other markets. This negatively affects the occupancy levels of some local hotels.
Nevertheless, significant activity is expected in domestic tourism during holidays and weekends. I think that this summer, the destinations local tourists will prefer the most will again be Turkey and the mountainous regions of Azerbaijan. At the same time, improving the quality of service should be a priority for both branded and non-branded hotels.”
Naila Gasimova,
Medianews.az