On June 7th, the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, in collaboration with BRANDit, held a press conference in Mumbai, India, attended by the top local media representatives. The event marked a milestone in Azerbaijan-India tourism relations, announcing BRANDit as the new representative office. This appointment highlights the growing interest of Indian travellers in Azerbaijan. During the event, Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, and  Lubaina Sheerazi, CEO of BRANDit, shared their insights and future plans for enhancing Azerbaijan’s visibility in the Indian market.

“Tourism relations between Azerbaijan and India are at a historic high, with increasing arrival numbers and many new emerging experiences and tourism opportunities for Indians, including family and solo vacations, destination weddings, Bollywood and Tamil movies shooting. Comparing to the same period last year, the number of Indian tourists visiting Azerbaijan has surpassed a twofold rise (2.6). With appointment of BRANDit as our representative office, we are poised to sustain and elevate this growing trend,” – shared Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of Azerbaijan Tourism Board.

He further announced the successful finalization of a roadshow in three Indian cities — Bangalore, Pune and Kolkata with top Indian travel trade representatives, providing both sides with opportunity to enhance tourism partnerships. Following  Sengstschmid’s remarks, Lubaina Sheerazi took the stage, expressing her readiness to support the collaboration.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the Azerbaijan Tourism Board as part of BRANDit’s growing portfolio. Our collaboration aims to unveil Azerbaijan’s hidden treasures and connect Indians with its unique experiences and use our expertise in the Indian outbound market, travel trade, and media to capture the growing interest in the destination.” – Lubaina Sheerazi, CEO and Co-founder, BRANDit.

The press conference concluded with an interactive session, where attendees had the opportunity to engage with speakers and learn more about exciting future of tourism relations between Azerbaijan India. Following the agenda, on June 8th, 2024, media and travel trade representatives will gather for a networking event in Mumbai, India.

The growing number of arrivals highlights Azerbaijan’s emergence as a highly sought-after travel destination for Indian tourists. The increasing influx of Indian tourists to Azerbaijan underscores its rise as a favoured travel spot. This popularity is fuelled by its accessible flights, hassle-free e-visa process, and reputation as a vibrant cultural and business centre. E-visas, obtainable from evisa.gov.az within 3 days for just $26, along with non-stop flights, enable travellers to reach the Caucasus region’s biggest city in just 4 hours. Currently, AZAL Airlines operates flights between Baku and Mumbai four times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, as well as flights between Baku and New Delhi three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. In addition, IndiGo Airlines operates flights from Baku to Delhi every day, with plans to introduce a new route with three flights per week from Baku to Mumbai.

Standing at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and supported by a rich history that spans 5000 years, Azerbaijan is an ideal destination for family vacations, solo-travellers and weddings. The diverse culture of Azerbaijan has flourished over the ages, also influenced by travellers passing the Great Silk Road. Ateshgah stands as a testament to this rich heritage, as this Fire Temple, marked by spouts of flames, and inscriptions in Sanskrit adorned by 19th-century Hindu merchants, continues to captivate travellers.

While in Azerbaijan, travellers can explore diverse tourism offerings, including UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Old City of Baku and the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape in the outskirts of the capital, Sheki Historic Centre in north-west and newly inscribed Khinalig village and ‘Köç Yolu’ in the north. Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, rich in ancient landmarks and sea views, is preordained for romance which is the reason for so many Indian weddings being hosted here.

Cosmopolitan Baku offers a vibrant city life with its museums and trendy bars, as well as restaurants with local and international cuisine. With top-notch infrastructure including the Skytrax 5-star rated Baku International Airport, chain hotels, iconic Flame Towers, and premier facilities like the Baku Congress Centre and Heydar Aliyev Centre, Azerbaijan is primed for hosting business and big international events, including proudly hosting COP29 in fall 2024.