Ilham Aliyev: Our future isn’t oil, but tourism

Today Azerbaijan's development is largely determined by the oil sector, not energy supplies. Therefore the authorities pay special attention to tourism, agriculture, information and communication technologies. This statement was made by President Ilham Aliyev at the opening ceremony of the therapeutic recreation complex Qalaaltı Hotel & SPA in the Shabran region. 

"We need to set aside oil and gas, and forget about them. And someday oil prices will have no meaning for us. Because the industries of agriculture, tourism and ICT are developing in Azerbaijan and they should develop even more actively," Interfax-Azerbaijan cites him as saying.

The President noted that the opening of the Qalaaltı Hotel & SPA is significant not only from the viewpoint of creating a new tourism destination, but also as evidence of the state's care of the tourism industry.

Ilham Aliyev recalled that during Soviet times Azerbaijan was famous for two resorts: in Naftalan, which now once again has great success, as well as Galaalty, where the Qalaaltı Hotel & SPA was opened. The water of Qalaaltı, even in Soviet times, was famous for its healing properties. The creation of the new complex on the site of the former sanatorium will attract even more visitors, the President said.

"Certainly, the First European Games had a positive impact on the development of tourism in Azerbaijan,’’ Ilham Aliyev said. 

In addition, the upcoming Islamic Solidarity Games, the competition of Formula 1 and other events are to be held in Azerbaijan. They will give the country an opportunity to acquire even greater fame and increase the flow of tourists. 

"For example, yesterday I met with the Secretary General of the International Shooting Sport Federation [Olegario Vazquez Rana - IF-Az]. He told me that during his visit to Baku at the opening ceremony of the First European Games he really liked Baku, and this time he decided to travel here with his family. These are our opportunities. We hold international events so that people could know us better," the President of Azerbaijan concluded.