Azerbaijan’s travel and tourism sector is expected to grow by 32% in 2025, according to new data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The sector is forecasted to contribute ₼10.3 billion to the national economy, accounting for 8.2% of the country’s total GDP.
This growth will also support 472,000 jobs, nearly 10% of all employment in Azerbaijan. This shows how important tourism is for the country’s workforce.
Spending by international visitors is projected to reach ₼5.5 billion in 2025. This marks a full recovery from the losses caused by the pandemic. At the same time, domestic visitor spending is expected to hit a record ₼3.8 billion, surpassing previous years. The rise in spending from both foreign and local tourists signals strong growth in the tourism economy.
Julia Simpson, President and CEO of WTTC, said, “Azerbaijan is gaining attention worldwide in travel and tourism. Visitor spending is rising and jobs are growing. The year 2025 looks like a breakthrough for the sector. These numbers show the success of Azerbaijan’s efforts to diversify its economy, promote culture, and build sustainable tourism. WTTC is proud to support this progress.”
In 2024, Azerbaijan’s travel and tourism sector contributed ₼7.8 billion to the economy. This was about 10% below pre-pandemic levels from 2019. The sector supported 423,700 jobs in 2024. International visitor spending rose 29% to ₼3.4 billion. Domestic visitor spending grew nearly 10% from the previous year, reaching ₼3.5 billion. These trends indicate that Azerbaijan’s tourism is recovering well and gaining strength.
Looking further ahead, WTTC predicts that by 2035, the travel and tourism sector will contribute more than ₼17 billion to Azerbaijan’s economy. This would make up almost 11% of the country’s GDP. The sector is also expected to support nearly 670,000 jobs, creating about 200,000 new jobs over the next decade.
International visitor spending is forecasted to reach nearly ₼9.5 billion by 2035. Domestic visitor spending is expected to grow to ₼6.3 billion. This balanced growth reflects a strong and steady future for Azerbaijan’s tourism sector. The country’s focus on cultural promotion, economic diversification, and sustainable development is driving this positive outlook.
Azerbaijan’s tourism growth in 2025 will boost both the economy and jobs as the sector fully recovers from the pandemic and looks ahead to strong, lasting progress.
