Examining the Characteristics of Outgoing Package Tours from Türkiye to Azerbaijan

Abstract

Over the past two decades, Azerbaijan's tourism has achieved significant growth and development. The country is promoting its rich history, cultural heritage, natural beauty, and modern infrastructure to attract tourists worldwide. During this process, the impact of Turkish tourists on Azerbaijani tourism is quite evident. Due to the historical and cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Türkiye, Azerbaijan is a desirable travel destination for Turkish tourists. Package tours organized from Türkiye not only contribute to the revival and economic stability of Azerbaijani tourism but also allow Turkish tourists to have different experiences without language barriers. This study aimed to ascertain the general characteristics of package tours originating from Türkiye. First, a web search was conducted to locate package tour programs. This search identified 47 tour programs which were then subjected to content analysis. The analysis results reveal that most of the identified tours to Azerbaijan are single-destination, non-strictly structured, cultural-oriented hybrid city tours. Furthermore, it was determined that most tours depart with transit air transport to Baku from major cities in Türkiye, where touristic demand is intense. Alley of Martyrs, Ateshgah, Gobustan, Walled City (Icherisheher), and the Flame Towers were found to be the most frequently included cultural attractions.