By Samir Dubendi, Executive Director, AzETA.
Azerbaijan has abolished the visa regime for Chinese citizens in 2024. As a result, the number of travelers from this country to Azerbaijan increased about 2 times in comparison with the previous year and reached about 45 thousand. However, this figure does not satisfy the government, which is trying to attract 30-35 times more Chinese tourists to the country every year. Recently, the President said in a speech that if only 1% of the 150 million Chinese citizens who travel abroad every year come to Azerbaijan, it will be enough for our country.
In 2019, Chinese tourists made 155 million trips abroad and spent 255 billion US dollars. Last year, Chinese tourists spent 200 billion US dollars on their trips abroad.
According to the State Tourism Agency, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Azerbaijan in 2023 increased by 552% compared to 2022, reaching 23,153 people. In 2024, this figure increased by 93% to 44,798 people. In the first three months of 2025, the number of Chinese tourists increased by 77% compared to the same period last year.
Azerbaijan is located at the strategic crossroads of the Silk Road, which provides the country with a unique opportunity to develop international tourism. The creation and improvement of routes through regional airports such as Ganja, Gabala, Zagatala, Lankaran can significantly increase transportation opportunities for foreign tourists, including Chinese.
Chinese tourists have a number of unique habits and expectations that should be taken into account when developing appropriate tourism products. Gastronomy is first and foremost: they try to taste local dishes, and they also appreciate the food they are used to. In addition to traditional Azerbaijani dishes such as pilaf, dolma, qutabs, kebabs, dim sum, noodles and other popular Chinese dishes will also be of interest to these tourists.
Tour programs should be tailored to the specific interests of Chinese tourists. Planning itineraries that cover the culture and history of Azerbaijan with qualified Chinese-speaking guides can be an important part of Chinese tourists’ trips. In addition, developing educational workshops on arts and crafts and participating in local festivals can add value to their trips.
Taking into account the growing number of Chinese tourists and their specific needs, Azerbaijan has every opportunity to increase its attractiveness in the international arena. Integration into global initiatives such as the Silk Road, optimization of the route network and adaptation of the offered products to the habits and expectations of Chinese tourists will create a powerful impetus for the development of the country’s tourism infrastructure and strengthen its economic position.
Strengthening tourism relations between Azerbaijan and China will bring mutual benefits, promote economic development, cultural exchanges and strengthen friendship between peoples. DAİR Hotel and Restaurant Association and Azerbaijan Ecotourism Association are ready to continue active cooperation with Chinese partners for further development of tourism between our countries.
