The Azerbaijan Tourism Board has signed an agreement with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) to build arrivals from Asia Pacific, PATA said on October 30.
The memorandum of understanding pairs the board’s destination marketing with PATA’s regional trade network. Azerbaijan opened a tourism board representative office in Beijing this year, and visitors from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea can travel there visa-free.
PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid and Azerbaijan Tourism Board CEO Florian Sengstschmid signed the deal in Baku on October 29. PATA Chairman Henry Oh and Fuad Naghiyev, chairman of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, witnessed the signing.
“Arrivals from Pacific Asia continue to grow,” Sengstschmid said.
The signing took place at the PATA Hosted Buyers Baku 2026 Summit. The event followed a familiarisation trip for trade buyers and media, and brought buyers from China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and the Republic of Korea together with Azerbaijani suppliers.
“Asia Pacific offers a range of opportunities for destinations looking to reach new audiences and develop stronger connections with the travel trade,” Hamid said.
Naghiyev said the Asia Pacific region was an important market for Azerbaijan’s tourism sector. “The opening of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board’s representative office in Beijing this year marks an important milestone in strengthening our presence in the region,” he said.
Under the agreement, the two bodies will explore cooperation in four areas: source market development and destination promotion, travel trade engagement and business development, media engagement, and knowledge sharing.
The board signed a similar memorandum with Slovakia Travel in July, covering B2B events, familiarisation trips and joint marketing.
PATA was founded in 1951 and is headquartered in Bangkok. The Baku agreement was signed in its 75th anniversary year.
