Taking place at the country’s nature-inspired pavilion in the Sustainability District, the event provided an opportunity to discover how the country has re-focused its efforts on the expansion of its sustainable tourism industry.
Inspiring travellers to turn over an eco-friendly leaf, ATB Chief Executive Officer Florian Sengstschmid underscored how sustainable tourism policies are crucial to future-proofing the country’s tourism industry and boosting Azerbaijan’s Covid-19 recovery.
“Borne out of the disruption caused to the tourism industry last year, Azerbaijan has sought to embrace the new opportunities presented by people looking to travel more safely. We are fortunate that our climate and diverse landscape make socially-distanced travel experiences possible. We have been able to unlock the full potential of Azerbaijan’s diverse natural and cultural offerings, as well as the talent and resilience of its people”, said Sengstschmid.
“Expo 2020 Dubai provides an ideal platform to share our commitment to sustainable tourism and innovation in the heart of its Sustainability District, and we look forward to welcoming new and returning Middle East travellers to see a new side of Azerbaijan.”
Among the many sustainable tourism offerings introduced at the event, Slow Food Travel was emphasised with a focus on inspiring visitors to indulge in the diversity of locally-grown food. As one of ATB’s prominent social initiatives, this has been designed to enable travellers to experience working with farmers and producers whilst enjoying overnight accommodation in rural guesthouses.
In line with this, guests at the event sampled a selection of specialties, prepared with Rushanka onion, Ata-baba hazelnuts, Caucasian buffalo yoghurt and other local produce.
Currently, citizens and permanent residents of 42 countries can travel to Azerbaijan by air, including the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
TradeArabia News Service
