On December 25, as part of a series of events organized by the State Tourism Agency to mark the 100th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev, the presentation of the tour “In the Footsteps of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev” was held with the participation of media representatives and tourism industry professionals.
Speaking at the event, Advisor to the Chairman of the State Tourism Agency, Kenan Guluzade, emphasized that Great Leader Heydar Aliyev laid the foundation for tourism in Azerbaijan and that his policy is being successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev.
Kenan Guluzade also highlighted the contribution of the “In the Footsteps of Heydar Aliyev” tour to the diversification of Azerbaijan’s tourism offerings.
In turn, Panah Mehdiyev, an employee of the Plenipotentiary Representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, spoke about Heydar Aliyev’s activities in Nakhchivan and his efforts toward the development of the autonomous republic.
Akbar Novruzov, Director of the Tourism Department of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, stated that tourism is one of the priority sectors in line with the State Program for the Socio-Economic Development of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic for 2023–2027.
He added that this tour will contribute to the development of tourism and serve as a valuable resource for those wishing to gain a deeper understanding of the legacy of National Leader Heydar Aliyev.
During the presentation, it was noted that the tour will include historical and cultural monuments that Great Leader Heydar Aliyev prioritized for preservation in Nakhchivan, as well as sites associated with his life and legacy.
As part of the event, a meeting was held between the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Fuad Najafli, and media representatives.
The visit also featured a familiarization tour of several significant landmarks. Participants visited the mausoleum of the renowned Azerbaijani poet and playwright Huseyn Javid, who was repatriated from Siberia in 1982 and laid to rest in his homeland, where a memorial monument now stands. They also explored the building of the Pedagogical Technical School, where Heydar Aliyev studied in 1938–1939, which now operates as the Bahruz Kangarli Museum. Another stop was the former Nakhchivan City Pioneers House, historically known as the Zaviya-Madrasa building, where the National Leader participated in chess, music, and drama clubs in the 1930s; today, it serves as the Nakhchivan Tourism Information Center.
Additionally, the tour included a visit to the Ashabi-Kahf Religious and Cultural Monument Complex, where restoration and improvement works were carried out in 1998 under Heydar Aliyev’s guidance. Participants also explored Ordubad city, designated as a "Reserve-City" in 1977 upon the National Leader’s initiative, as well as the Khan Palace State Historical-Architectural Complex, the Momina Khatun and Open-Air Museum Complex, and the Nakhchivan State National Drama Theater.
In addition to these sites, the two-day program includes visits to key historical landmarks in Nakhchivan, Julfa, and Ordubad, such as the Heydar Aliyev Museum, the Alinjagala historical monument, the Geysariyya building, and the Ordubad Juma Mosque.