Pandemic's impact on tourism in Azerbaijan

"Today, the situation of the tourism industry in Azerbaijan is distressing. It is already the seventh month of 2020; however, due to coronavirus pandemic, the working period was only two months." Samir Dubandi, Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijan Hotels and Restaurants Association, told Report.  

He stated that hotels are close and not accepting customers due to the current circumstance: "The catering sector's situation is also undesirable. Delivery and on-site ordering are operating. By offering these services, they have maintained their existence in the market.  However, these services are still provided with a limited number of employees in workplaces. Domestic tourism should be developed, we have forgotten our citizens, and mainly focused on attracting a foreign audience. Nevertheless, we must draw the attention of our people to hotels and thermal sanatoriums of the country. I am also the executive director of the Ecotourism Association. The association is busy with carrying out researches and studies on improving domestic tourism. Besides, we are collaborating with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources to boost national parks' resources and infrastructure. In different directions, ten national parks have been created. The establishment of national parks is for the progress of tourism activities. Work is being implemented for the advancement of ecotourism, extreme tourism, and agro-tourism. Our purpose is to continue developing domestic tourism in the post-pandemic period."  

The Report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) states: "Losses in the global tourism sector due to coronavirus pandemic may go up to $1.2 trillion by the end of 2020. This year's losses will comprise up to 1.5% of global gross domestic product (GDP).

If restrictions on international tourism will remain until March 2021, sector will take a hit up to $3.3 trillion (4.2% of global GDP)."