Azerbaijan tourism deficit grew 13 percent in 2014

Overall turnover of tourism services for 2014 totaled $5.439 billion vs. $5.2 billion in 2013. In the 1st quarter it totaled $1.4 billion, in the 2nd quarter $1.255 billion, in the 3rd quarter $1.27 billion, and in the 4th quarter $1.49 billion. Last year it reached $1.431 billion for the 1st, $1.138 billion for the 2nd quarter, $1.29 billion for the 3rd quarter, and $1.38 billion for the 4th quarter.

In 2014 services for $2.4 billion were provided to foreigners in Azerbaijan and for $3.008 bn to Azerbaijanis abroad. Tourist services to residents of Azerbaijan abroad grew by 4.6% and 67.4% accounted for their costs during individual trips abroad. At that, 28.3% of tourist services to non-residents in Azerbaijan were linked with their business visits to the country.

Last year services for $2.365 billion were provided to foreigners in Azerbaijan and for $2.876 billion to Azerbaijanis abroad. At that, out of the total amount of travel services to foreigners 36.6% accounted for working visits of non-residents. Tourist services to residents of Azerbaijan for 2013 grew by 16.1% and 62.3% accounted for their costs during individual trips abroad.

The deficit balance of tourist services for 2014 amounted to $576.875 million against $511.569 million for 2013. In the 1st quarter it was estimated at the level of $207.466 million, in the 2nd quarter $259.024 million, in the 3rd quarter $272.547 million, and in the 4th quarter it was observed surplus for $162.16 million.

For comparison in the 4th quarter 2013 the deficit balance reached only $158.709 million against $188.229 million for the 3rd quarter and $276.59 million for 2nd quarter. The surplus for the 1st quarter 2013 totaled $121.96 million.

For comparison, for the 1st quarter of 2013 services for $776.540 million were provided to foreigners in Azerbaijan against $431.164 million in the 2nd quarter, $551.577 million in the 3rd quarter and $605.76 million in the 4th quarter; and for $654.58 million to Azerbaijanis abroad against $707.755 million, $739.806 million, and $774.47 million respectively.

In 2012 turnover of tourism services totaled $4.9 billion, including services for $2.4 billion (+$883.827 million) provided to foreigners in Azerbaijan and for $2.476 billion (+$679.49 million) to Azerbaijanis abroad. At that, deficit balance of tourist services for 2012 amounted to $43.519 million.

Overall turnover of tourism services in 2011 made $2.976 bn versus $1.365 billion in 2010. At that, deficit of tourism services balance rose from $124.314 million in 2010 to $401.681 million in 2011.

In 2011 the country received $1.287 billion from tourism sector and paid $1.689 billion abroad. In 2010 these indicators were $620.652 million and $744.96 million respectively.