The rich historical, cultural and natural heritage of the country attracts visitors from all over the world. Untouched nature, mineral springs, the world’s only oil field treatment – naphthalene, a unique ancient architecture, unique culture, cuisine, and more contribute to the formation in Azerbaijan of all types of tourism: business, sport, medical, cognitive, hunting, exotic, beach and even gastronomic. Azerbaijan is a territory of 9-out of 11 of the world’s climatic zones. The climate of Azerbaijan enables to the organization of summer and winter holidays. Very common are ecological tours to Azerbaijan, which include visits to nature reservations, trekking, and climbing routes. Midday sandy beaches offer opportunities for diving and swimming season starts in Azerbaijan in May. World Heritage List of UNESCO included the Inner City of Baku “Old City” with the Shirvanshahs Palace and Maiden Tower and museum of petroglyphs “Gobustan”. In turn other unique historical and archaeological curiosities. The flow of tourists is increasing every year (according to official information in 2011 Azerbaijan was visited a record number of foreign nationals – more than 2.2 million), so in the capital and other tourist areas there is a growing number of hotels with the highest level of service. Today their number is more than 500 Among the most popular hotels in the capital are the chain of brand hotels such as Four Seasons Hotel Baku, Hyatt Regency, JW Marriott Absheron Baku Hotel, Jumeirah Bilgah Beach Hotel, Grand Hotel Europe, Hilton Baku, Kempinski Hotel Badamdar, etc. Hotels, recreation, entertainment, and sports centers operate also in the regions of Azerbaijan – a chain of hotels and amusement park Qafqaz Gabaland in Gabala, the epic winter and summer tourist complex “Shahdag” in Gusar region, more than 15 Olympic sports complex having necessary infrastructure for receiving tourists all over the country, etc.

All this indicates that tourism in Azerbaijan is one of the priorities of the state policy and holds great promise for economic development.