TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
With multiple direct flights and convenient process to obtain visa, Azerbaijan is easily accessible for the GCC travellers. It is also a country boasting of a modern capital city beaming with history and culture, breathtaking landscapes, lush forests and mountains, quaint villages as well as mouth-watering cuisine.
TT Bureau
Therefore, it is not surprising that Azerbaijan continues to receive more and more travellers from the GCC countries, who are keen to explore endless immersive experiences available in the country. Among the 832,000 travellers having arrived in Azerbaijan in the first half of 2022, those from Saudi Arabia were placed in the second place, while UAE, Oman and Kuwait were among the top 10 source countries.
Starting from Baku – a city enchanted with the vibes of the ancient times and magic of modern atmosphere, there is more than one way to spend your vacation here. You can enjoy the atmosphere of the UNESCO-protected Old City, take a stroll along the Seaside Boulevard or a gondola ride in Little Venice and taste the best dishes from local cuisine. You can also indulge in shopping at the largest mall of the Caucasus region – Deniz Mall or recently-opened Sharg Bazaar, which is a magnificent manifestation of the Silk Road.
It would be best to take your travel up a notch extending your trip to the epic landscapes in other parts of the country. For full relaxation, you can choose to get the best out of mountain resorts to enjoy family-friendly activities. Mountain swing at Tufandag in Gabala right after off-road tours or admiring cute alpacas in their farm in Shamakhi are just a few to name.
On the other hand, among the novelties are the introduction of the renovated Basgal village, which is an arts and crafts settlement located on the crossroads of the Silk Road in the north-west. Surrounded by beautiful nature, this village is filled with restored hammams and mosques as well as craftsmen of kelaghayi – a traditional headscarf for women. Another spot where you can see infrastructure updates is the Diri Baba Tomb in Gobustan on the way to Shamakhi, which is a natural haven itself in Azerbaijan.
To bolster the attraction of these experiences, there are a few plans in the pipeline to work closely with travel agents and tour operators in the region. Additionally, Azerbaijan Tourism Board will cooperate with major OTAs once again, while making sure considerable reach among travellers directly through media platforms and influencers, organising multiple familiarization trips.
Currently, citizens and permanent residents of 101 countries can travel to Azerbaijan by air, including the GCC countries. With increased number of direct flights by multiple airlines, including Azerbaijan Airlines, Qatar Airways, Flydubai, Flynas and Air Arabia, passengers can fly to Azerbaijan, provided that those over 18 years of age submit a COVID passport (an official document issued by the relevant country on complete vaccination or recovery from COVID-19).
