Opportunities to Boost Mutual Tourist Flow Between Azerbaijan and China Discussed
Fuad Naghiyev, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency, has met with Wang Zhiqing, Chairman of China Eastern Airlines, in Shanghai.
The State Tourism Agency told Operativ Media about the meeting.
The meeting was attended by Teymur Hasanov, Director of Heydar Aliyev International Airport, Florian Sengstschmid, Chief Executive Officer of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, and Rashad Aliyev, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Board.
During the meeting, the sides discussed China Eastern Airlines launching flights to Azerbaijan, expanding air connectivity between the two countries, and opportunities to increase mutual tourist flows.
Fuad Naghiyev emphasized that the comprehensive strategic partnership and high-level relations between Azerbaijan and China create a favorable foundation for developing tourism cooperation. Noting that China is one of Azerbaijan's priority tourism markets, the agency head provided information on promotional activities conducted in the country, cooperation with leading travel platforms, and the Azerbaijan Tourism Board's office opened in Beijing.
Naghiyev expressed the State Tourism Agency's readiness to support the airline in launching flights to Azerbaijan. In this context, subsidy mechanisms envisaged in the state tourism development program, airport discounts, and joint marketing opportunities were discussed.
Wang Zhiqing, Chairman of China Eastern Airlines, stated that the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Azerbaijan creates a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation in civil aviation and tourism, adding that the mutual visa exemption provides a long-term boost to the expansion of the aviation market.
Emphasizing that direct flights between Shanghai and Baku hold great market potential and development prospects, Wang Zhiqing noted their interest in jointly developing tourism ties between the two countries and increasing air passenger traffic, while highly appreciating the State Tourism Agency's efforts in this direction.
Large-scale promotional events are being carried out in China to raise awareness about Azerbaijan's tourism potential. Participation in international tourism exhibitions and events in China, a series of promotional events in major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Chengdu, meetings with tourism industry representatives, organizing familiarization trips for media and bloggers, and online marketing activities continue throughout the year.
As part of these activities, the promotion of Azerbaijan's tourism potential was launched across social media platforms in the People's Republic of China during 2026, including Weibo, WeChat, Douyin, RedNote, SKYE, and Bilibili, while promotional campaigns advertising Azerbaijan's tourism potential are regularly placed on CTRIP.com and FLIGGY, among China's leading travel platforms.
The official representative office of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board in Beijing has been operating since May 29, 2026. Under the "Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the People's Republic of China on Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements for Holders of Ordinary Passports," signed on April 23, 2025, Chinese citizens travel to Azerbaijan visa-free.
Direct flights between Azerbaijan and China currently operate three times a week on the Baku–Beijing route via Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) and five times a week on the Baku–Urumqi route via China Southern Airlines.
In 2025, the number of foreign citizens visiting Azerbaijan from China rose by 41.7% compared to 2024 to reach 63,500 people, while in January–October 2026 it grew by 7% compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching 61,001 people.
