On October 28-29, the international conference "Azerbaijan Health Tourism Conference: Development Opportunities" was held in the city of Shusha, organized by the State Tourism Agency. The event brought together experts from Turkey, Russia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan to explore leading practices in health tourism and define development directions for Azerbaijan.
In his opening remarks, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency, Fuad Naghiyev, highlighted Azerbaijan's vast potential in health tourism, emphasizing recent efforts to develop this sector. He noted that positioning Naftalan oil as a key tourism product and promoting it in European and new markets remain a priority. He also underscored the potential of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur for health tourism, mentioning that experts from Turkey have been involved in evaluating and providing recommendations for these areas. The Kalbajar region, with its balneological resources, stands out in particular. Among the five tourism and recreation zones proposed in the tourism development concept for Kalbajar, two focus on mineral-thermal springs. The Lachin region also boasts significant mineral-thermal water resources, making it a suitable location for health tourism. Additionally, Shusha’s air-recreational capabilities contribute to the growth of this tourism segment.
Naghiyev stressed that promoting Azerbaijan’s health tourism potential on regional and international platforms, implementing marketing initiatives, and establishing a strong brand are key objectives of the State Tourism Agency. He expressed confidence that, with government support, leadership attention, and active industry participation, tangible progress in the sector will be achieved in the coming years.
Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Kalbajar, Bashir Hajiyev, provided an update on the reconstruction and development efforts in Kalbajar, particularly the revitalization of the Istisu Sanatorium. He highlighted that the presence of three international-standard airports in Karabakh would facilitate the influx of foreign tourists to the region.
The head of the Naftalan City Executive Authority, Vuqar Novruzov, emphasized the significance of the Presidential decree on enhancing the role of Naftalan oil in health tourism. He noted that the implementation of this decree would strengthen Naftalan’s global recognition as a health tourism center.
Following the welcome speeches, a promotional video showcasing Azerbaijan’s health tourism centers, medical tourism hotels, and sanatoriums was presented. The conference continued with panel sessions, where international and local experts discussed Azerbaijan’s position as a health tourism destination, existing opportunities, and strategic approaches to integrating cultural heritage with health tourism.
Discussions covered the best global practices in health tourism, including technological advancements, digital innovations, and methods to enhance service quality. Experts also explored the effective utilization of Azerbaijan’s natural therapeutic resources, such as Naftalan oil, healing muds, thermal waters, and medical infrastructure, in positioning the country on the global tourism map.
The final session examined strategies for advancing Azerbaijan’s medical tourism industry and securing its place on the global medical tourism landscape. The conference concluded with discussions by working groups on health and medical tourism.
