Azerbaijan Tourism Association
{{Short description|Tourism organizations in Azerbaijan}}
Azerbaijan Tourism Association (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Turizm Assosiasiyası), or AzTA, is one of the tourism organizations in Azerbaijan. The main goal of AzTA is to amalgamate and manage nearly all tourism companies in the country.{{clarify|date=June 2021}}
Activity
AzTA was founded in 2009 with the help of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan.{{Cite web|last=comi|title=Azerbaijan Tourism Association|url=https://www.lifebeyondtourism.org/institutions/azerbaijan-tourism-association/|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Life Beyond Tourism Movement|language=en-US}} Association incorporates 242 travel agencies and 110 hotels.{{Cite web|date=2018-02-03|title=Azerbaijan, Indian tourism associations sign memorandum of cooperation|url=https://www.azernews.az/business/126545.html|access-date=2021-01-08|website=AzerNews.az|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=APA.az|date=|title=Chairman of Azerbaijan Tourism Association appointed to post in World Tourism Organization|url=https://apa.az/en/azerbaijan_tourism/-167970|access-date=2021-01-08|website=apa.az|language=az}}
In 2017, AZAL and AzTA signed the agreement on cooperation. According to the agreement, AZAL became a board member of Azerbaijan Tourism Association.{{Cite web|date=2017-10-20|title=AZAL becomes board member of Azerbaijan Tourism Association - News {{!}} Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan|url=http://mct.gov.az/en/common-news/azal-becomes-board-member-of-azerbaijan-tourism-association|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Azərbaycan Respublikası Mədəniyyət Nazirliyi}}
The Chairman of AzTA is Ahmed Gurbanov.{{Cite web|title=New head of Committee of Azerbaijan Tourism Association appointed|url=https://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/New-head-of-Committee-of-Azerbaijan-Tourism-Association-appointed.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023004453/https://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/New-head-of-Committee-of-Azerbaijan-Tourism-Association-appointed.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 23, 2021|access-date=2021-01-08|website=vestnikkavkaza.net|language=en-EN}}{{Cite web|last=1news|title=Избран новый председатель Ассоциации туризма Азербайджана|url=https://1news.az/news/izbran-novyy-predsedatel-associacii-turizma-azerbaydzhana|access-date=2021-01-08|website=1news.az|language=ru}}
The Azerbaijan Tourism Association has a committee on inbound tourism, a committee on outbound tourism and a committee on transport issues.{{Cite web|title=Ассоциация туризма Азербайджана объявила о начале внешней экспансии и привлечении третьих стран для организации международных туров|url=http://abc.az/ru/news/126|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Abc.az|language=en}} Heads of committees are appointed for one year.
At the initiative of the AzTA, the concept "Prospects for the development of domestic tourism in Azerbaijan until 2025" was prepared.{{Cite web|title=Каковы перспективы развития внутреннего туризма Азербайджана?|url=https://www.ru.bakucity.az/news/2773377/kakovy-perspektivy-razvitia-vnutrennego-turizma-azerbajdzana|access-date=2021-01-08|website=ru.bakucity.az - Сайт города Баку|language=ru-AZ|archive-date=2021-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304211109/https://www.ru.bakucity.az/news/2773377/kakovy-perspektivy-razvitia-vnutrennego-turizma-azerbajdzana|url-status=dead}}
International cooperation
AzTA is one of the members of the World Tourism Organization since 2011.{{Cite web|date=2019-05-09|title=Tourism companies to expand opportunities for travel on credit|url=https://www.azernews.az/travel/150356.html|access-date=2021-01-08|website=AzerNews.az|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2014-10-09|title=Ассоциация туризма Азербайджана провела благотворительную акцию для детей (ФОТО)|url=https://www.trend.az/life/travel/2320060.html|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Trend.Az|language=ru}}
In 2011, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan and AzTA signed an agreement on cooperation with the Dubai-based company Atlantis Holidays.{{Cite web|date=2016-08-17|title=В Азербайджане усилят контроль над деятельностью зарубежных турфирм|url=https://www.trend.az/business/economy/2570822.html|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Trend.Az|language=ru}}
During the 57th Meeting of UNWTO's Regional Commission for Europe in April, 2014 which was held in Baku, the headship of AzTA signed the Private Sector Commitment to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.{{Cite web|title=Commitment Signatory: Azerbaijan Tourism Association {{!}} UNWTO|url=https://www.unwto.org/content/commitment-signatory-azerbaijan-tourism-association|access-date=2021-01-08|website=www.unwto.org}}{{Cite web|date=2014-04-03|title=Азербайджан присоединился к Глобальному этическому кодексу туризма|url=https://www.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/2258808.html|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Trend.Az|language=ru}}
In 2018, a Memorandum of cooperation was signed between Azerbaijan Tourism Association and the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI)
In the same year, a partnership memorandum for two years between AZTA and Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) was signed.{{Cite web|last=Asia|first=T. T. G.|title=Malaysia, Azerbaijan strengthen tourism cooperation {{!}} TTG Asia|url=https://www.ttgasia.com/2018/10/16/malaysia-azerbaijan-strengthen-tourism-cooperation/|access-date=2021-01-08|website=www.ttgasia.com|language=en-US}}
In 2019, a Memorandum of cooperation between AzTA and State Committee of Uzbekistan for Tourism Development was signed.{{Cite web|date=2019-10-16|title=Узбекистан и Азербайджан увеличат туристический поток|url=https://www.trend.az/business/tourism/3134098.html|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Trend.Az|language=ru}}
In 2019, AzTA signed agreements on cooperation with Les Roches International School of Hotel Management and Glion Institute of Higher Education.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Ассоциация туризма Азербайджана и Университеты Les Roches и Glion подписали меморандум|url=http://vzglyad.az/news/149912/Ассоциация-туризма-Азербайджана-и-Университеты-les-roches-и-glion-подписали-меморандум-.html|access-date=2021-01-08|website=|language=ru}}
Besides five new offices opened in 2020, it's planned to open offices in 25 countries around the world.{{Cite web|last=Guide|first=Baku Travel|date=2020-09-15|title=Azerbaijan Tourism Association opens new representations in 5 regions|url=https://bakutravelguide.com/en/azerbaijan-tourism-association-opens-new-representations-in-5-regions/|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Baku Tourism Information Portal|language=en-GB}}
On the initiative of AzTA and with the support of tourism enterprises of Turkey, it was decided to set up the Tourism Organization of Turkic-Speaking States in 2020. The main purpose of the organization is to contribute to the development of the tourism sector in Turkic-speaking countries.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-11|title=Turkic-Speaking States to set up Tourism Organization|url=https://www.azernews.az/travel/168873.html|access-date=2021-01-08|website=AzerNews.az|language=en}}
In 2020 AZTA was joined by approximately 27 tourism agencies.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-16|title=Azerbaijan Tourism Association opens new offices|url=https://www.azernews.az/travel/168997.html|access-date=2021-01-08|website=AzerNews.az|language=en}}
There are multiple meetings with private sector leaders and tourism agencies held every year.