The State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan was established under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan according to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated April 20, 2018 "On some measures related to the improvement of state management in the field of culture and tourism".
In accordance with the Statue on the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated September 21, 2018, the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan is a central executive authority that implements state policy and regulation in the field of tourism, as well as the protection of historical and cultural monuments located in the territories of state reserves under its jurisdiction.
The STA oversees the development and execution of a unified state policy in the field of tourism, implementation of norm-setting activities, the governmental regulation, control, and arrangement in tourism, maintaining coordinated activities between other governmental bodies, and organizations, as well as with physical persons and legal entities, international and non-governmental organizations in terms of tourism development, protection of reserves and sustaining the purposive use of its resources, promotion and protection of national culinary samples.
The agency builds its activities on priority areas such as preparing state programs and development concepts related to the relevant field, implementing activities to attract investments for advancement and development of tourism infrastructure, industry and reserves, as well as for forming new tourism zones and tourism service fields, promoting Azerbaijan as an international tourism destination, creating and promoting tourism brand of the country, improving research and statistics for long-term development and future perspectives, preparing and implementing marketing and communication plans of regions and cities, advancing tourism education for preparation of qualified tourism professionals, expanding public-private business cooperation, increasing tourist satisfaction and eliminating seasonality, developing new tourism products and related activities in terms of protection and preservation reserves.
According to the order of President Ilham Aliyev on making additions to the order dated April 21, 2018 "On the new composition of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan" Naghiyev Fuad Humbat was appointed the chairman of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan.