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CT Insight Report: What’s new in Azerbaijan?

Destinations09/06/26

mountains in Gabala Azerbaijan shutterstock 1986075320 resized

Gabala mountains in Azerbaijan

The country welcomed 2.57 million foreign visitors in 2025, up 2.1% YoY

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Azerbaijan’s tourism sector is expanding beyond its capital, Baku, into a multi-destination market. New infrastructure is improving access to the mountainous Gabala region and the city of Ganja, easing cross-country travel.

The country remains a key outbound destination, ranking ninth in the 2026 Connecting Travel Insight Report, which draws on data from travel intelligence providers Emerging Travel Group and RateHawk. Simplified visa access for Gulf residents and strong air connectivity continue to drive regional tourism to the Caucasus country.

Azerbaijan reopens scenic route to northwestern region

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi increases flights to Baku and Tbilisi

Azerbaijan welcomed 2.57 million foreign visitors in 2025, up 2.1% YoY. Baku remains a draw with its Unesco‐listed old town and Caspian‐seafront boulevard, but 2026 brings a new rail service linking second city Ganja with the mountain resort hotspot of Gabala.

The fast, scenic route, which also connects to Baku via Laki, opens easy access to skiing in winter, hiking in summer and the Gabala International Music Festival in July, featuring 500 artists. New stays include the 127‐room Hilton Garden Inn Agdam in the mountainous Karabakh region, while Four Seasons Baku retains its Forbes Five‐Star rating.

Ancient alpine village Khinalig in Azerbaijan shutterstock 2

Khinalig Village, Azerbaijan

Key Developments

Khinalig village, Quba

Recognised among UN Tourism’s Best Tourism Villages 2025, Khinalig is a 5,000‐year‐old mountain village of stacked stone houses on steep slopes, forming a living, open‐air museum.

Crescent Hotel, Baku

Designed as a sculptural ‘rising crescent moon’ on the Caspian waterfront, this upcoming hotel is billed as ‘seven‐star’ with 360 rooms, indoor‐outdoor pools and a spa.

10th F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

This milestone four-day race weekend in September will combine F1 sessions with concerts and entertainment zones to celebrate its 10th anniversary on the Caspian waterfront.

Baku City Circuit

Accommodation Performance

Visitors took shorter and lower-spending trips to Azerbaijan in 2025 compared to 2024. RateHawk data indicates travellers stayed fewer nights and room rates declined year-on-year.

RateHawk findings

Want to know more?

This feature is an extract from the Connecting Travel Insight Report 2026. With exclusive data from industry heavyweights RateHawk and Emerging Travel Group, the 35-page report forecasts key developments in the GCC travel and tourism sector as well as revealing this year’s top 10 outbound destinations for GCC travellers, providing a roadmap to new opportunities. Get your complimentary copy here today.