AZE,US
More than 40% of tourists’ spending in Azerbaijan goes toward transportation, a share that is significantly higher than what is typically seen in more developed tourism markets, according to tourism expert Jeyhun Ashurov.
Ashurov said that in the first half of 2026, Azerbaijan saw not only a decline in the number of foreign visitors but an even sharper drop in tourist spending.
Tourist arrivals fell by a little over 10%, while total spending by visitors decreased by more than 20%, he told Demokrat.az.
According to Ashurov, one of the key measures of a tourism sector’s performance is not simply how many visitors arrive, but how much each traveler spends while in the country.
“Transportation accounts for more than 40% of tourism package costs in Azerbaijan. Normally, that figure should be below 30%,” Ashurov said.
“This means that almost half of a tourist’s spending is effectively going toward transportation.”
He said the cost of reaching and traveling within a destination can directly influence whether tourists choose to visit in the first place.
Ashurov argued that Azerbaijan should take additional steps to make travel to the country more attractive and accessible, which could help increase visitor numbers.
Where Tourists Spend After Arrival
Once travelers arrive in Azerbaijan, their other major expenses include accommodation, food, entertainment and leisure services.
Ashurov said tourism generates greater economic value when visitor spending is spread across hotels, restaurants, retail businesses, entertainment venues and other local services rather than being concentrated primarily on transportation.
Tourism destinations around the world, he added, increasingly seek to offer a wider range of services that encourage visitors to spend more during their stay.
The figures suggest that reducing the transportation burden could help Azerbaijan not only attract more visitors but also increase the amount of money tourists spend across the wider economy.
AZE.US