Mr. Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, Patron-in-Chief of APJCCI emphasized the strong potential for enhancing tourism cooperation between the two brotherly countries. He proposed organizing a Tourism Conference in Islamabad to highlight Azerbaijan’s tourism and business opportunities, as well as to strengthen linkages with Pakistani stakeholders. He stressed that the number of direct flights between Pakistan and Azerbaijan should be increased, including new routes such as Sialkot, to facilitate greater tourist inflows.
He also called for the sharing of a list of accredited Azerbaijani tour operators to help ensure reliable arrangements for Pakistani travelers. Furthermore, he suggested that road shows be arranged in Pakistan in collaboration with APJCCI to promote Azerbaijan as a tourist destination. He also extended an invitation to Azerbaijani tourists to visit Pakistan, which offers a wealth of historical, cultural, and natural attractions. Simplified visa processes and enhanced flight connectivity, he noted, would play a key role in strengthening tourism activities between the two countries.
Responding to these proposals, Mr. Rashad Aliyev, Deputy CEO and Ms. Fida Akhundzade, highlighted the rising number of Pakistani tourists visiting Azerbaijan. She shared that there is 51% increase of Tourists from Pakistan over the same period the previous year. She noted that tourism cooperation with Pakistan was a priority and informed the delegation about new “combo-tourism” initiatives involving Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan.
She further confirmed that Azerbaijan will hold road shows in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi in October and November, while also proposing online webinars to connect stakeholders and expand awareness of tourism opportunities.
It was agreed that APJCCI would extend its full support in organizing these events in Pakistan, and both organizations designated focal persons to ensure smooth coordination