The opening ceremony of the 3rd International Health Tourism Conference, organized by Azerbaijan’s State Tourism Agency, was held in Baku, AZERTAG reported.
The event opened with the national anthem of Azerbaijan.
The conference brought together representatives of government institutions, healthcare facilities and the tourism industry, as well as international experts from Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, Georgia, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, Spain, the Czech Republic and other countries.
The conference aims to promote Azerbaijan’s potential in medical and wellness tourism internationally, facilitate the exchange of expertise and support the establishment of new cooperation ties.
Addressing the event, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency Fuad Naghiyev outlined Azerbaijan’s potential in the health tourism sector, the importance of government support for its development and key priorities for the future. He noted that the country’s natural therapeutic resources, medical infrastructure, and historical and cultural heritage offer significant opportunities to diversify its health tourism products.
Naghiyev also emphasized the importance of the priority areas set out in the “State Programme for the Development of Tourism in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2026–2030”, including the development of health and wellness tourism, improvements in service quality, and expanded opportunities for the international accreditation of medical tourism facilities.
Minister of Health Anar Bayramov described medical tourism as a sector with considerable development potential, at the intersection of healthcare, the economy and international cooperation. He noted that Azerbaijan’s favorable geographical location, developing medical infrastructure, qualified specialists and tourism opportunities provide a solid foundation for the country to become a regional hub for medical tourism.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed participants via video message, emphasizing that alongside the development of medical tourism, it is essential to ensure patient health and safety, the quality of medical services, and the provision of post-treatment medical support.
Noting that health tourism should contribute to achieving the goals of the national healthcare system, he welcomed Azerbaijan’s efforts to strengthen cooperation between the healthcare and tourism sectors.
On the second day of the conference, participants will discuss Azerbaijan’s natural therapeutic resources, the properties, historical use and applications of Naftalan oil, as well as the development of personalized, experience-oriented services and the positioning of sanatoriums in the modern tourism market.
