Azerbaijan is a geographical name. On the one hand this name is linked with the population, which lived in this region for thousands of years before our era, and who were mostly fire-worshippers. Local population considered that fire was their God and so they worshipped the fire. Azerbaijan is one of the most ancient sites of humankind. The humankind was present here at every stage of their historical development. There were living settlements in Azerbaijan even at the earliest stages of humankind. Azerbaijan made its own contribution into the establishment of the current culture and civilization, progress and dialectics. Azerbaijan is a country of ancient culture.

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The Oguz tribes which moved here and stayed for ages, have found a deeply rooted culture and in their turn enriched it with Turkic national traditions. The talented and creative powers of our nation are personified in such epic monuments as “Kitabi-Dede Gorgud”, “Oguzname” “Keroglu” and many others. This fertile, generous and friendly land was the home of many thinkers, philosophers, scientists, poets, architects, musicians and artists. A legend tells that Zardusht was born in this land. Azerbaijan has always been famous for its sources of eternal fires – the atashgehs.

There is a place called Yanardag (blazing mountain) in Absheron and thermal springs in some parts of Nakhichivan, Kelbejar, Masali, Lenkoran, Babadag. In Surakhani, there is an eternal fire place. From the ancient times the fire worshippers from remote places and even the Indian priests were coming to Absheron in search of fire and finding it here.Azerbaijan is currently involved into the implementation of huge energy projects. Oil and gas projects are successfully implemented in the Azeri Caspian sector. Azerbaijan is a country, which plays an extremely important role in the Caspian and Caucasian regions, particularly in the development of transport infrastructure in the Caucasus and the implementation of energy projects.

It was the region’s first country to explore the huge energy potential, to form an absolutely new economic model in the regional development, and to expand political and economic relations between Europe and Asia.

Azerbaijan’s position in the World of tourism is strengthening

Azerbaijan has been chosen as the chair of the United Nations World Tourism. Organization (UNWTO) for the year 2017. The decision was made at the organization’s 104th Executive Council session held on 31 October in Luxor, Egypt. Azerbaijan’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfas Garayev, who spoke on his country’s behalf noting the UNWTO’s contributions made into the field of tourism and the fact that 2017 had been declared International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, vowed to welcome all initiatives brought forward in this regard during Azerbaijan’s chairmanship.

Azerbaijan’s appointment as the chair of the Executive Committee of an organization which constitutes a specialized branch within the structure of the UN is a sign of international prestige that our country enjoys in the sphere of tourism. Recently, as a result of measures taken by the government of Azerbaijan in tourism industry, favourable conditions have emerged for the development of this domain, rendering local tourism more competitive. This is proven by the increasing tourist arrival rate, especially in the number of tourists from Arab countries.

Facilitating visa regulations for citizens of the Gulf states played a decisive role in this increase. It should be noted that according to the 2016 Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTÍ) report, Azerbaijan is on the list of best tourism destinations for Muslim travellers. Azerbaijan remains popular in the post-Soviet realm, including Russia.

Language:

Official state language of the country is Azerbaijani – belongs to Turkish group of languages. Vast majority of the population speaks Russian fluently and English is used all over hotels, restaurants, shopping centers.

Currency:

The national currency is Manat(AZN). Exchange of any currency is possible in banks and exchange offices. Banks working weekdays from 9 AM to 17 PM. 1$ = 1.70 AZN

Asan Visa

Traveling to Azerbaijan has never been so easy. Apply for e-Visa, visit and make your trip unforgettable on the shores of the Caspian sea. Depending on the applicant’s choice, visas can be issued within 3 days (standard visa application form) or 3 hours (emergency visaapplication form).  http://evisa.gov.az/

Security

Azerbaijan is most stable and secure country in the Caucasian region. Azerbaijanis are friendly and hospitalable people, respect to others traditions, customs and religions. Tourists feel themselfs very comfortable here.

Contact numbers in case of emergency:

Ambulance: 103
Fire: 101
Gas Emergency 104
Police: 102
Speaking Clock :106

Note that emergency phone operators will generally speak Azerbaijani, Turkish and Russian but not English.

Photo and video shooting

You can take the usual tourist photo and video (with the exception of some objects), but while taking a photo of strangers on the street or in any public places for the sake of courtesy it is advisable to ask permission.

Alcoholic drinks

All restaurants and bars serve alcohol. In addition, anyone can buy them(except under 18) without any restrictions from market or shops.

Medical services

At state medical centers emergency help is provided free of charge. Ambulance service is available 24 hours by calling (012) 103.There are also many private medical clinics and centers which vast majority of doctors know English language. Some pharmacies are working at night.

Transportation

Azerbaijan has an existing transport infrastructure,which includes air, rail, highway, marine and pipeline transportation.Azerbaijan is a major logistics center, through which is passing the shortest way from Europe to CentralAsia, the Middle and Far East, in particular transport corridor TRACECA and North-South road and rail routes connecting the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, in the same territory.

Internet &International communications

Mobile communication on the GSM and LTE standard operates all over the country. Roaming service provides by all mobile operators. Free Wi-Fi Internet is widely covered, especially in the center of city and hotels, restaurants, business centers. There’re many payphones over the city and coins are sold in the newsstands. International code of Azerbaijan is +994 and Baku (0)12 .

Azerbaijan has introduced Tax Free shopping, a service that allows to ensure full or partial refund of Value Added Tax (VAT) paid on the purchase of goods by foreign citizens (mainly tourists). A widely used international practice enjoyed by foreign travelers, the Tax Free system’s introduction is aimed at attracting foreign tourists’ interest in the country, ensuring the sustainability of the development of tourism and strengthening of competitiveness thereof.

The VAT amount paid on the purchase of goods not designed for production or business purposes in shops displaying Tax Free signage is refunded to foreign citizens in the airport while departing from Azerbaijan. The standard VAT rate in Azerbaijan is 18%. To benefit from the opportunities of Tax Free shopping, one needs to shop at stores displaying Tax Free signage. To be eligible to use this opportunity, the cost (including VAT) of purchased goods per one e-tax invoice must not be less than 300 AZN and must be taken out of the territory of the country by air within 90 days from the purchase date. The buyer may receive the VAT in cash or on their bank card through transfer. The VAT amount minus 20% handling fee for the services provided by the Operator and service charges for banking transactions will be paid to the buyer by the correspondent Bank.

Azerbaijani Carpets:

Carpet weaving is one of the oldest and most wide-spread types of folk art in Azerbaijan. Predecessors of Azerbaijani carpets were first mentioned in the works of the filth century BC Greek scholar Xenophon. Arab, Persian historians and later European travellers who visited Azerbaijan in the mediaeval era noted the beauty of our carpets.

Beginning in the nineteenth century, detailed information on Azerbaijani carpets has featured in books dedicated to Oriental arts, published in European countries. In terms of ornament and compositional characteristics, the Azerbaijani art of carpet-weaving is divided into seven schools: Guba, Baku (Absheron), Shirvan, Ganja, Gazakh, Karabakh and Tabriz.

carpets

Nowadays the rare examples of ancient Azerbaijani carpets are exhibited famous museums and galleries around the world – New York’s Metropolitan Museum, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Hermitage (St. Petersburg), the Louvre (Paris), the Vatican and others. This was why in 2010, the Azerbaijani carpet was included by UNESCO on the representative list of  Intangible Cultural Heritage.

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