According to the Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Azerbaijan has advanced by seven positions compared to the previous report, ranking 56th out of 119 countries.
Among CIS countries, Azerbaijan has achieved the second-highest ranking, demonstrating significant progress across four key components of the index. The report, based on data collected by the end of 2023, highlights improvements in the “Enabling Environment” component, which includes business environment, safety and security, health and hygiene, and human resources and labor market. Additionally, Azerbaijan has shown progress in “Travel and Tourism Policy and Enabling Conditions”, particularly in international openness and price competitiveness, as well as in the “Travel and Tourism Demand Drivers” component, which measures cultural resources. Improvements were also recorded under the “Travel and Tourism Sustainability” component, particularly in environmental sustainability and socio-economic resilience.
Azerbaijan maintained its top position in the travel and tourism data reporting indicator, ensuring the regular submission of statistical data to international organizations, just as it did in 2021.
Additionally, the Global Terrorism Index results show that Azerbaijan improved its ranking by 34 positions, making it one of the safest countries. Other notable advancements include a 39-place improvement in seasonality of inbound tourism, a 28-place rise in comprehensive annual travel and tourism data reporting, a 29-place increase in the number of UNESCO-listed natural heritage sites, and notable progress in digital payments (+18 places) and 3G mobile network coverage (+32 places).
However, the report also outlines key areas for improvement in Azerbaijan’s tourism sector, such as the limited number of short-term rental accommodations compared to neighboring countries, the need for increased capital investment in tourism, bilateral air service agreements, biodiversity and protected natural areas, and ratification of environmental agreements.
To further improve Azerbaijan’s ranking in the Travel and Tourism Development Index, the State Tourism Agency initiated the establishment of the "Tourism Development" working group in October 2022 under the Commission on Business Environment and International Rankings (https://azranking.az/working-groups). The working group has since coordinated efforts between public and private sector stakeholders, leading to the implementation of an Action Plan aimed at improving Azerbaijan’s performance in the index. Work is currently underway to finalize a new Action Plan aligned with modern challenges and strategic goals.
The Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI), introduced by the World Economic Forum in 2007, is published biennially. It serves as an enhanced version of the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) and assesses the economic and social impact of tourism, its role in sustainable development, and collaboration opportunities across different sectors at local, regional, and international levels.
