OSCE Baku Office conference boosts eco-tourism as alternative income source for Azerbaijan
(OSCE/Ulvi Akhundlu)Amb. Peter Burkhard (left), Head of OSCE Centre in Baku, speaks at an eco-tourism conference in Baku, 15 April 2004. Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth, Sport and Tourism, Abulfaz Qarayev (centre) and University of Kent Prof. Nigel Leader-Williams look on.
(OSCE/Ulvi Akhundlu) Photo details
BAKU, 15 April 2004 - Over 80 specialists from Azerbaijan and abroad will discuss best management practices in eco-tourism, its impact on the country's economy and strategies for promoting it, during a two-day OSCE co-organized conference that opened today in Baku.
"Eco-tourism and the tourism sector in general could play a major role in development outside the oil and gas sectors of Azerbaijan's economy", said Ambassador Peter Burkhard, Head of the OSCE Office in Baku, opening the conference.
But only co-ordinated efforts by all stakeholders would further promote eco-tourism in the country and help bring the tourism sector up to international standards, he added.
The Conference on Sustainable Eco-Tourism Development in the National Park System of Azerbaijan gathers international and local institutions, including non-governmental organizations and small businesses active in the field, to discuss the current situation and create strategies for the way ahead.
The event, which is being co-organized with the British Council and Western University of Azerbaijan, is led by two experts in sustainable eco-tourism development from the University of Kent in the United Kingdom, as well as by the author of the most popular tourist guidebook on Azerbaijan.
Addressing the conference, Hussein Bagirov, the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, said special attention should be paid to proper regulation in order to preserve the natural wealth of the country.
"We should remember eco-tourism is based on responsible travel to natural areas, conserving the environment and sustaining the well-being of local people. Without this, eco-tourism will hardly achieve its full potential in assisting the economic development and raising the living standards of local populations"
Abulfaz Qarayev, Minister of Youth, Tourism and Sport, emphasized the positive impact developing the tourism sector could have on the reduction of poverty and socio-economically marginalized people in Azerbaijan.
"Tourism generates growth through a wide variety of services and economic sectors, assists regional development and creates employment. To fully exploit its potential tourism, we need to develop partnerships and co-operation at all levels."
Among the topics to be discussed are protected-area tourism and conservation, local community-based tourism, and national and local infrastructure needs. Working groups are expected to establish a number of recommendations for further work in the area of sustainable eco-tourism in the National Parks of Azerbaijan.
"Eco-tourism and the tourism sector in general could play a major role in development outside the oil and gas sectors of Azerbaijan's economy", said Ambassador Peter Burkhard, Head of the OSCE Office in Baku, opening the conference.
But only co-ordinated efforts by all stakeholders would further promote eco-tourism in the country and help bring the tourism sector up to international standards, he added.
The Conference on Sustainable Eco-Tourism Development in the National Park System of Azerbaijan gathers international and local institutions, including non-governmental organizations and small businesses active in the field, to discuss the current situation and create strategies for the way ahead.
The event, which is being co-organized with the British Council and Western University of Azerbaijan, is led by two experts in sustainable eco-tourism development from the University of Kent in the United Kingdom, as well as by the author of the most popular tourist guidebook on Azerbaijan.
Addressing the conference, Hussein Bagirov, the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, said special attention should be paid to proper regulation in order to preserve the natural wealth of the country.
"We should remember eco-tourism is based on responsible travel to natural areas, conserving the environment and sustaining the well-being of local people. Without this, eco-tourism will hardly achieve its full potential in assisting the economic development and raising the living standards of local populations"
Abulfaz Qarayev, Minister of Youth, Tourism and Sport, emphasized the positive impact developing the tourism sector could have on the reduction of poverty and socio-economically marginalized people in Azerbaijan.
"Tourism generates growth through a wide variety of services and economic sectors, assists regional development and creates employment. To fully exploit its potential tourism, we need to develop partnerships and co-operation at all levels."
Among the topics to be discussed are protected-area tourism and conservation, local community-based tourism, and national and local infrastructure needs. Working groups are expected to establish a number of recommendations for further work in the area of sustainable eco-tourism in the National Parks of Azerbaijan.