A meeting of the Gabala and Gakh-Balakan Regional Tourism Councils was held.

On October 13-14, meetings of the Gabala and Gakh-Balakan Regional Tourism Councils were held in the Gabala and Gakh districts, organized by the State Tourism Agency. A total of nearly 100 people from around 30 government agencies—including representatives of the State Tourism Agency, local executive authorities, and members of the Council's working group—participated in the meetings.

At both meetings, Kenan Guluzade, Advisor to the Chairman of the State Tourism Agency and Chairman of the Regional Tourism Councils, delivered a speech. He provided information on the essence of the "State Program for the Development of Tourism in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2026–2030," its contribution to the development of the country's tourism industry, and the tasks stemming from the Program. Key areas of activity reflected in the "Proposal Plan" for regional development were widely discussed, including accessibility and infrastructure in tourism, tourism products and experiences, tourism marketing, promotion and digitalization, tourism industry development, human resources and quality standards in tourism, as well as the work to be carried out by the main implementing agencies.

Etaya Osimova, Deputy Head of the Gabala District Executive Authority, stated that the activities of the Regional Tourism Council make an important contribution to developing the region's tourism potential.

Elvin Pashayev, Head of the Gakh District Executive Authority, emphasized the importance of the sustainable development of the district's natural, cultural, and historical potential in accordance with the tourism strategy determined by the President of Azerbaijan. He noted that book projects, intellectual tourism initiatives, and various cultural festivals are successfully implemented to promote Gakh's tourism opportunities, with the number of participants in these festivals exceeding 70,000. He stated their readiness to support the efficient and prompt realization of set goals through cooperation with the local population and the tourism sector. He also expressed confidence that the Council will make a significant contribution to the long-term and sustainable development of tourism in the region.

Turan Dibirov, Deputy Head of the Balakken District Executive Authority, drew attention to the importance of the district's rich nature, ancient historical monuments, and unique natural sites such as the Katex Waterfall for tourism development. He noted that the presence of specially protected natural areas and the region's favorable geographical location create great opportunities for expanding ecotourism.

Elgun Javadov, Head of the Cultural Heritage and Regional Tourism Department at the State Tourism Agency, spoke about the existing opportunities for further developing these regions of Azerbaijan from a tourism perspective.

Heybat Valiyev, Head of the Destination Development and Tourism Product Department at the Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau, provided information on the Bureau's marketing activities, the introduction of tourist signages, and the organization of familiarization trips to the region for media representatives and travel companies from foreign countries.

During both reporting-style meetings, the opinions and proposals of the participants were also heard. In conclusion, the importance of continuing joint activities with relevant entities to use the region's tourism potential more efficiently, solve existing problems, and achieve the set goals was strongly emphasized.