BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 23. Uzbekistan and
Azerbaijan are planning to expand tourism cooperation through joint
promotional campaigns, reciprocal tourism visits and
business-to-business meetings, following a meeting between
Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee Chairman Abdulaziz Akkulov and
Azerbaijan’s newly appointed Ambassador to Uzbekistan Rashad
Mammadov on Sept. 23.


This was reflected in the statement by the Tourism Committee of
Uzbekistan.


The sides discussed increasing tourist flows between the two
countries, promoting their tourism destinations and strengthening
direct contacts between tourism industry representatives.


Particular attention was given to Azerbaijan’s potential in ski
and health tourism. Mammadov highlighted plans to develop the
Kalbajar district as a promising ski tourism destination and
briefed the Uzbek side on health tourism facilities, including
sanatoriums and hotels in Naftalan.


“The Treaty on Eternal Friendship signed by the leaders of
Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan on August 23 is important for further
strengthening relations of friendship, strategic partnership and
alliance between the two countries,” Akkulov said.


The sides also agreed to establish direct dialogue and develop
cooperation between the trade unions of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan
in tourism.


They highlighted the results of joint tourism initiatives,
including the “Highlights of the Silk Road” project, under which
Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee and Azerbaijan’s State Tourism
Agency organized joint roadshows for tourism industry
representatives in several European cities in October 2025.


The two countries plan to hold another series of joint roadshows
in four European countries in October 2026.


Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan also agreed to organize reciprocal
familiarization tours for tour operators, media representatives and
bloggers, as well as B2B meetings between private-sector
representatives from the two countries.


The initiatives are aimed at increasing direct business contacts
and promoting tourism products in both markets.


Mammadov and Azerbaijan’s State Tourism Agency were also invited
to the Tashkent International Tourism Fair 2026, scheduled for
November 25-27, as well as the opening ceremony of 2027 as the
International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism, to be held
during the fair in cooperation with UN Tourism.