UNWTO welcomes Azerbaijan´s implementation of a brand new e-visa system streamlining visa applications into an electronic format, aimed to draw more international tourists into the rustic.
The electronic visa system, operational since March 2013, was administered upon the decree of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, to facilitate visa procedures for foreigners traveling to the rustic. The measure enables document facilitation and reduction of visa costs and processing times.
“Azerbaijan’s decision is the popularity of the way visa facilitation is really a key measure to advertise tourism in a rustic. This new system encourages travel to Azerbaijan and can result in further development of the country´s tourism sector during the increase of international tourism flows,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.
Currently, there are 25 travel companies operating within the country which might be authorized to issue e-visas to international tourists, and initiatives are being undertaken to extend this number. Concurrent with the implementation of the system, border checkpoints can be improved consistent with the Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku to ease entrance of international tourists into Azerbaijan.
Visa facilitation is proven to be a key measure to advertise tourism’s growth and its impact on economic growth and job creation. A UNWTO/WTTC report prepared for the G20 shows that the implementation of visa facilitation measures among the many G20 economies could generate up to an 5.1 million jobs and additional US$ 200 million extra in exports from international tourism between 2013 and 2015.