Azerbaijan has witnessed a remarkable surge in international tourism during the first seven months of 2024. Between January and July, the country welcomed an impressive 1,502,700 foreign visitors or stateless individuals, a significant 31.4% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This influx of tourists from 182 different countries underscores the growing appeal of Azerbaijan as a travel destination.
The largest share of visitors originated from the Russian Federation, accounting for 29.2% of the total. Following closely behind was Türkiye with 16.5%, solidifying its position as a significant source of tourists. Other notable contributors included India (9.3%), Iran (8.3%), and Saudi Arabia (4.2%). Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan also contributed significantly, with respective percentages of 4.0%, 3.2%, and 2.7%. The United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan each made up 1.7% of the total visitors, further highlighting the diverse origins of Azerbaijan’s tourist population.
The statistics also reveal that 67.1% of the tourists were male, while 32.9% were female, reflecting the wide range of demographics attracted to Azerbaijan. This data offers valuable insights into the different segments of travelers visiting the country.
Beyond the overall growth, specific countries saw particularly impressive increases in visitor numbers. Notably, India witnessed a remarkable 2.5-fold increase, followed by South Korea with a 2.3-fold rise. China also experienced a substantial growth, with a 2.1-fold increase in visitors. Other countries contributing to this upward trend include Spain and Kazakhstan (each with a 1.8-fold increase), Kyrgyzstan (1.7-fold), the Philippines (1.6-fold), and Pakistan (1.5-fold).
Several other countries recorded significant percentage increases in visitor numbers. Jordan experienced a remarkable 49.7% surge, followed by Oman (47.0%) and Iran (46.5%). Saudi Arabia and Italy saw increases of 42.8% and 38.7%, respectively. Yemen, Turkmenistan, and Poland also contributed notably, with increases ranging from 33.0% to 35.9%. The upward trend continued with visitors from Kuwait, Egypt, Uzbekistan, and the USA, all showing significant gains. Türkiye, Ukraine, and Germany also experienced strong growth, with increases of 19.6%, 20.5%, and 19.3%, respectively. Tajikistan, the Russian Federation, Bahrain, and France followed with notable percentage increases. Even neighboring countries like Georgia and the United Arab Emirates contributed to the overall rise in tourism, with increases of 11.8% and 7.5%, respectively.
A deeper analysis of the data reveals a remarkable 39.6% increase in arrivals from the Gulf countries, reaching 258.8 thousand people. The European Union member states also contributed significantly, with a 28.0% rise, bringing the total to 57.1 thousand visitors. Furthermore, the number of tourists arriving from the CIS countries grew by 20.5%, reaching 576.1 thousand people, emphasizing the broad appeal of Azerbaijan as a travel destination across various regions.
