Baku, Ankara Deepen Tourism Ties With New Cooperation Roadmap

Azerbaijan and Türkiye are strengthening cooperation in the tourism sector following the 5th meeting of the Joint Working Group on Tourism held in Antalya on April 2, AzerNEWS reports.

The meeting, co-chaired by Jalil Malikov of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan and Turkish counterparts, focused on expanding bilateral collaboration as well as joint initiatives within international platforms such as the UN World Tourism Organization, the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, and the Organization of Turkic States.

Discussions covered a wide range of areas, including tourism education, coastal zone management, winter and health tourism, as well as gastronomic tourism and improvements to the legislative framework for sustainable development.

Participants also addressed the creation of stronger public-private cooperation mechanisms, enhanced exchange of experience in regional tourism and cultural heritage management, and the preparation of a Joint Action Program for 2026. The implementation of the 2025 action plan was reviewed, with new priorities identified for the upcoming year.

Special attention was given to Azerbaijan's nomination of Lahij for the“Best Tourism Village” award by the UN World Tourism Organization, as well as the designation of Shusha as the tourism capital for 2026 by the Economic Cooperation Organization.

An invitation was extended to Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy to attend upcoming tourism meetings in Shusha. Cooperation opportunities related to COP31 were also discussed, with Azerbaijan's experience in hosting COP29 highlighted-particularly the inclusion of tourism in the agenda for the first time.

The role of the Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau's representative office in Istanbul was emphasized as a key factor in boosting bilateral tourism ties and facilitating business-to-business engagement.

The meeting concluded with the signing of a cooperation protocol between the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan and Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, marking a new phase in tourism partnership between the two countries.

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