11:09 - 31.07.2025

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July 31, Fineko/abc.az. In the 1st half of 2025, the number of tourists traveling to Azerbaijan for recreation and entertainment decreased by 11.5% against Jan-Jun 2024.

ABC.AZ informs with reference to the State Statistics Committee that in just 6 months of 2025, 521,000 people entered the country solely for the purpose of tourism. In the same period of 2024, their number was 589,000 people.

The main cause of general decline is decrease in tourists from Russia and India. For example, more than 115,000 tourists from Russia visited for this purpose (55,000 or 32% less versus Jan-Jun 2024). The number of arrivals from India fell by 13,000, or 12%, to 98,000. In the previous year, close to 112,000 tourists arrived from the South Asian country.

It is noteworthy that there were certain geopolitical and social reasons in both countries. After the downing of an Azerbaijani plane over Russia, political tensions between the two countries have increased. The period of temporary stay of Russian citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in Russia who arrive in Azerbaijan without a visa has been reduced from 180 to 90 days within one calendar year. Russia itself imposed this rule even before Azerbaijan introduced it.

Russia's share of tourists coming to Azerbaijan for this purpose has dropped from 29% to 22% for Jan-Jun 2025.