Azerbaijani ambassador expects number of tourists from Russia to rebound in 2026

MOSCOW. March 16 (Interfax) - The number of Russian tourists visiting Azerbaijan declined in 2025 due to certain circumstances, but positive dynamics emerged in January 2026, and at the end of the year it may approach the record figures seen in 2024, Azerbaijani Ambassador in Moscow Rahman Mustafayev said.

"We saw a very large influx of tourists from the Russian Federation in 2024. Due to certain circumstances, this flow decreased in 2025, but the figures for January show we have reasons to hope that this flow into our country will recover, and Azerbaijan will again become a desirable destination for Russian tourists, as well as for guests of our beautiful country from other places," Mustafayev said at Azerbaijani tour operators' meeting with Russian travel agencies organized by the Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau in Moscow on Monday.

A total of 41,000 Russian tourists visited Azerbaijan in January 2025, and more than 42,000 in January 2026, he said. Data from the Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau show that a total of 615,000 Russian tourists visited Azerbaijan in 2025, versus 730,000 in 2024.

Russia and Azerbaijan are actively working to fully normalize their relations, Mustafayev said.

"An active normalization process is ongoing. There is dynamics in trade and economic issues, in political and humanitarian contacts," he said.

Azerbaijan has managed to maintain its social stability and economic growth despite the extremely tense situation in the region and worldwide, he said.

Tourism is rapidly developing in Azerbaijan, Mustafayev said.

"We are actively working to develop our infrastructure, including hotels, regional routes, tourism services, also promoting development programs," he said.