A delegation from the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan participated in the Global Summit of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC 2024), held on October 8-10 in Perth, Western Australia.

During the summit, Azerbaijan's delegation, including Kenan Gasimov, Chief of Staff of the State Tourism Agency, and Florian Sengstschmid, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, held meetings with Julia Simpson, CEO of WTTC, and Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group.

The discussions focused on the conservation of the "Cultural Landscape of Khinalig and “Köç Yolu” Transhumance Route ", which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as well as biodiversity protection in tourism and the development of community-based tourism initiatives.

The delegation also highlighted the upcoming COP29 Conference to be hosted in Baku this November, where, for the first time in COP history, tourism will be included in the official agenda. This initiative aims to enhance tourism’s role in combating climate change while also addressing the sector’s vulnerabilities to environmental impacts.

The WTTC Global Summit serves as a key platform that brings together global tourism industry leaders and government officials to discuss emerging trends, challenges, and the sector’s economic impact, as well as to explore innovative solutions for sustainable development.

Azerbaijan, as a partner country of the World Travel & Tourism Council, is also a member of the "Sustainability Basics" program, which outlines 12 fundamental actions for hotels to promote sustainable tourism practices.