SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN AZERBAIJAN: CURRENT SITUATION, PROBLEMS AND SOLUTION

In the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan, tourism is seen as one of the most promising areas. Azerbaijan has a strong potential to develop tourism with rich natural and historical-cultural recreation resources. After gaining independence in 1991, a new tourism strategy was developed in the country and an independent tourism policy was started. Taking into account the importance of tourism for the country, tourism development priorities and targets have been identified in regional development programs as well as on tourism related documents. The "Strategic Road Map", approved in December 2016, can be considered as a new stage in the development of the country's tourism. In recent years, the positive results of the measures taken in the field of tourism infrastructure development, promotion and personnel training in Azerbaijan are observed. Growth in the number of foreign tourists visiting the country and revival in domestic tourism are indicators of progress in tourism. In Azerbaijan tourism development is essential for the protection of nature, such as the conservation, rational use of natural and historical-cultural recreation resources, solving existing problems in tourism and ecotourism in order to sustain sustainable development of tourism.