On June 5, the 71st meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for Europe commenced in Baku.

In his opening remarks, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency Fuad Naghiyev highlighted the importance Azerbaijan places on strengthening its cooperation with UN Tourism. He noted that Azerbaijan has been a member of the organization since 2001, has served three times on the Executive Council since 2013, chaired the Council in 2017, and hosted its 110th session in 2019.

“The steady development of Azerbaijan’s tourism sector is a direct result of the strong support and visionary leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. His strategic guidance has been instrumental in positioning tourism as a key driver of economic diversification and international cooperation. We are proud to continue building on this foundation to further enhance Azerbaijan’s role on the global tourism map,”– Fuad Naghiyev, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan.

He noted that the country has become a key hub connecting Europe with other regions, including in the tourism sector. He reported that in 2024, the number of international visitors to Azerbaijan increased by 26% compared to 2023, with tourism expenditures reaching 5.1 billion USD.

Referring to Azerbaijan's role as the host of COP29, Mr. Naghiyev underlined the country's efforts in bringing tourism to the forefront of climate negotiations for the first time in COP history. He shared information about the “First Ministerial Meeting on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism,” jointly organized by the State Tourism Agency and UN Tourism, and the “COP29 Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism,” which has so far been endorsed by over 70 countries. He called on participating nations to support and join the declaration.

He also announced Azerbaijan’s candidacy for one of the seats allocated to the European region on the UN Tourism Executive Council for the 2025–2029 term, emphasizing the importance of member states’ support during the upcoming vote.

“Tourism is the most human of all economic sectors — it connects people, cultures, and communities. As we reflect on the outcomes of this important meeting, I thank the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan for their warm hospitality and vision. Today, more than ever, we must strengthen the pillars of innovation, education, and investment to ensure a truly sustainable future for our sector. The diversity of voices here continues to guide us toward that goal,”– Natalia Bayona, Executive Director of UN Tourism.

Also attending the event was Ramiz Hasanov, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Spain and Permanent Representative to UN Tourism.

The event, attended by nearly 150 official representatives from 38 European member countries of the Regional Commission, will include presentations on the organization’s activities for 2024–2025, elections for the General Assembly, various committees and working groups, and elections to the Executive Council.

It should be noted that, alongside Azerbaijan, countries such as Kazakhstan, Moldova, Slovenia, France, Armenia, Romania, Croatia, and Greece have also submitted their candidacies for the five seats allocated to the European region on the Executive Council for the 2025–2029 term.

On the second day of the event, a thematic conference titled “From Momentum to Elevation: Advancing Climate Action in Tourism Beyond COP29” will be held.