AZE.US
Regional tensions around Iran are beginning to affect Azerbaijan’s tourism sector, especially travel from Gulf countries.
Tourism expert Rahman Guliyev said the recent developments in the region have created serious pressure on international travel. According to him, the disruption has also affected Azerbaijan, where a large share of foreign visitors traditionally comes from Gulf states.
The main problem is not only security concerns. Air travel has also become more complicated, longer and more expensive.
Guliyev said airport restrictions and changes in flight routes in the region have reduced the number of available flights from Gulf countries to Azerbaijan. Some airports have partially reopened, but airlines are still operating under limitations.
Flights from Dubai to Baku remain possible in limited form, but the route has become significantly longer. According to Guliyev, a flight that previously took about 2 hours and 50 minutes to 3 hours can now take around 5 and a half hours because planes avoid Iranian airspace and use longer routes.
That change directly affects ticket prices and the cost of travel. Longer flights mean higher expenses for airlines, which are then reflected in fares. For tourists, Azerbaijan becomes less convenient and more expensive as a destination.
The situation is also affecting routes involving Doha and other Gulf destinations. Guliyev noted that travelers who previously had direct and relatively affordable options may now need longer routes and additional connections.
For business or urgent travel, such routes may still be acceptable. For ordinary tourists, however, longer flight times and higher prices can easily delay or cancel travel plans.
Azerbaijan’s tourism sector is particularly sensitive to this disruption because visitors from Gulf countries have become an important part of the market in recent years. Their absence is felt not only by airlines, but also by hotels, restaurants, guides and regional tourism businesses.
Guliyev said the sector could recover once the regional situation stabilizes and air corridors reopen more fully. He expressed hope that the issue may be resolved in the coming months, allowing tourist exchange to return to normal.
For now, Azerbaijan enters the tourist season with an extra challenge: demand may still be there, but regional risks, longer flights and higher ticket prices are slowing the return of visitors from the Gulf.
AZE.US