MUMBAI, Feb 7: Azerbaijan witnessed a 30 per cent year-on-year decline in tourist arrivals from India in 2025, with approximately 1,70,000 Indian travellers visiting the country as global geopolitics affected connectivity.
“In 2025, we received approximately 1,70,000 travellers from India compared to 240,000 in 2024. So, roughly we received 30 per cent less visitors from India in 2025. Because of global geopolitics, airspaces were closed and planes were rerouted, impacting tourist footfalls,” Azerbaijan Tourism Board CEO Florian Sengstschmid told PTI on the sidelines of the three-day Outbound Travel Market (OTM) 2026 that began on February 5.
There was a shift in segment in 2025, with Free Independent Traveller (FIT) and solo travellers segments witnessing growth, while Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) segments declined, he said.
In 2026, Sengstschmid said, Azerbaijan is witnessing a growth in bookings in MICE and destination wedding segments from India, which has been among the top five source markets for the last four years.
“We are expecting 10-15 per cent growth in tourist arrivals from India this year as compared to 2025, which is feasible looking at the current sentiment,” he said.
When it comes to spendings, Sengstschmid said, in 2026 overall Indians spent around USD 180 million and are also ranked among top five in this category as well.
“Therefore, we are going to focus on segments including FIT and solo travellers, MICE, weddings, celebrations like anniversary, birthdays among others, women groups and long weekends. Azerbaijan is from a cultural and social perspective very much linked to Indian travellers and travelling patterns.
“When it comes to lifestyle, food, gastronomy, weddings and sharing that warmth of hospitality, Azerbaijan and India are perfect match,” he said.
He further said Azerbaijan has partnered with neighbouring countries to offer cluster packages.
“We have a strong partnership with Georgia offering similar travelling patterns. In the Caucasus region, there is also the Silk Route, which is very popular among Indians that includes Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.”
Currently, Azerbaijan has daily flights connecting New Delhi and Mumbai with its capital city Baku, he said, adding that Azerbaijan Airlines will start operating flights from Ahmedabad to Baku from June this year with four flights a week – on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
“From June, we will be connecting with Baku and Ahmedabad, the sale is already on. These additional 4 weekly flights are expected to help boost tourist arrivals to Azerbaijan. This year we are focusing on promoting Azerbaijan in Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and also Chennai, which is also historically strong market and has a bigger volume for our country,” he added. (PTI)
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