(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 22. The regions ofAzerbaijan are working on the development of the tourism sector,studying the possibilities of demand and supply for each region,Head of Administration at the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan,Kanan Gasimov, said at the 1st meeting of higher educationinstitutions specializing in tourism education within the Black SeaEconomic Cooperation Organization (BSEC), Trend reports.

"We have seen significant infrastructure development in certainregions, while others have faced delays. Our aim is to enhance theavailability of accommodation in all regions with tourismpotential, urging businesses to invest in these facilities. Thegovernment is actively providing incentives in this area now offers expanded opportunities for natural, urban,and historical tourism," he emphasized.

He added that steps are being taken towards the development ofmore niche tourist destinations and extreme sports tourismdestinations.

"There will be a major need to increase the number of staff inthese areas in the coming years. We expect educational institutionsto accelerate their work in this direction," he added.

Baku hosts the first meeting of the BSEC higher educationinstitutions specializing in tourism education to discusscooperation, perspectives, and challenges in the field of tourismeducation.

The meeting is attended by official representatives of statesand tourism educational institutions from 11 member countries ofthe organization, including Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Russia, Albania,Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, and Ukraine,as well as representatives of the UN World TourismOrganization.

From January through March of this year, 513,413 foreignersvisited Azerbaijan, which is 39 percent higher than the sameindicator of 2023 (369,072), according to the State Tourism Agencyof Azerbaijan.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency'sWhatsApp channel

MENAFN22042024000187011040ID1108122208