Azerbaijan’s rising luxury tourism: golf courses, high-end shopping and five-star hotels

For a long time, Azerbaijan has attracted tourists with its exotic culture. But now, a new type of luxury traveler is being drawn to the country, located on the border between Eastern Europe and West Asia. A golf course, a rarity for the former Soviet republic, appeared on the slopes of Shahdag Mountain, 160 kilometers away from Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, in 2013. Designed by John Hunt International Golf Design Group, and built by American company Total Golf, it hosted the European Challenge Tour just a year later and is now becoming a popular destination for international and domestic tourists. “We have a very nice view at the golf course, deep bunkers, nice slopes, a little bit challenging because, in natural, most of the golfers are from different countries, expats working in Baku,” explains Quba Palace Hotel & Golf Resort golf director, Kheyraddin Jabbarov. “At the same time, we have Azerbaijani golfers because it’s a completely new industry for Azerbaijan.” At Quba Palace Hotel & Golf Resort, there’s also a shooting range, swimming pools, a spa and a wellness center. Azerbaijan, a relatively new player in the global tourist market, is investing heavily in luxury tourism. According to the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, over 1.2 million people visited the country in the first six months of 2024. Most visitors come from Russia, Turkey, South Asia and the Middle East. There are now around 23 five-star hotels in the country, says Gunay Saglam, head of Azerbaijan Hotel Association. “To get the five-star, it’s not an easy task,” she says. “It should be excellent in absolutely everything, starting from facility to the offered service, especially the staff and the offerings to the guests, so this makes them different from the others.” “We’re very proud and happy that in Azerbaijan, for now, we have quite a lot of branded luxury hotels and not only internationally branded but local brand hotels as well, which bring a new beauty to the city and our country.” “We’re also happy that the new upcoming hotels are also coming for the opening. So, Baku and the regions, they are becoming more known with all these brands and the hotels.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.