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Azerbaijan’s tourism industry faces a decade of growth as global demand shifts

Azerbaijan has been welcoming travellers for centuries. Merchants once crossed the country along the Silk Road, carrying silk, spices, gold and other goods between Europe and the East. Today, the country attracts visitors with its Caspian coastline, mountain resorts, historic landmarks and distinctive cuisine. A new international study suggests that many more foreign tourists could visit Azerbaijan over the next decade.

According to a report commissioned by hotel group Accor and based on forecasts by Tourism Economics, overnight stays by international tourists in Azerbaijan could rise by 116% between 2026 and 2036. The report, titled The Changing Face of Europe’s Tourism Map by 2036, was covered by Romanian publications Afaceri.news and Mediafax. The report forecasts continued growth in Europe’s tourism industry over the next decade. Demand for tourist accommodation across the continent is expected to increase by 32%, adding 1.6 billion overnight stays annually.

The study identifies improved transport links, investment in tourism infrastructure, growing interest in new destinations and wider access to international travel as factors expected to shape Europe’s tourism market over the coming decade.

The forecast comes at a time when the country has a wide range of attractions to offer, from the Caspian Sea to mountain resorts and historic sites. But what will bring more visitors to Azerbaijan, and what will persuade them to stay longer?

It is safe to say that history gives the country material for tourism beyond conventional sightseeing. Historic architecture, religious monuments, regional customs and traditional cuisine can all form part of a visitor’s experience. The challenge is to make these attractions accessible to travellers who may know Baku but are less familiar with the rest of the country.

Azerbaijan’s natural landscape also offers a varied choice of destinations. The Caspian coastline provides opportunities for seaside holidays, while mountainous areas attract visitors interested in skiing and outdoor activities. Mild weather in some regions and the presence of mineral springs and other natural resources also support different forms of recreation and health tourism. These attractions appeal to different groups of travellers. Some may come for a city break, others for a ski holiday, a wellness stay or a closer look at the country’s history and cuisine.

The Accor-commissioned study forecasts a 93% increase in arrivals from the Middle East and an 88% rise in visitors from Asia to Europe by 2036. These projections are relevant to Azerbaijan because the country already receives visitors from both regions. The study also expects international overnight stays across Europe to rise by 42%, compared with projected growth of 24% in domestic tourism.

Europe welcomed 810 million international tourists in 2025, representing 53% of worldwide international tourist arrivals. Tourism revenues exceeded pound 700 billion. The study projects that spending by international visitors to Europe will increase from pound 825 billion in 2026 to more than pound 1.3 trillion by 2036. It shows the size of the market in which Azerbaijan hopes to strengthen its position. However, the forecast for Europe as a whole should not be read as a guarantee that every destination will experience the same pattern. Each country will still need to attract visitors and compete for their time and spending.

According to Azerbaijan’s State Border Service, 1.8318 million foreign nationals and stateless persons from 191 countries visited Azerbaijan in January-September 2026. Thus, Russian citizens accounted for 27.1% of all arrivals, followed by Turkish nationals at 19.4%, Iranian citizens at 7.7%, Georgian nationals at 4.9%, Kazakhstanis at 4.5%, Israelis at 3.7%, Pakistanis at 3.5%, Uzbek citizens at 3.1%, Chinese nationals at 2.8%, Indians at 2.6%, Saudi Arabians at 2.4%, Ukrainians at 1.6%, and Turkmen citizens at 1.3%.

Citizens of Germany and the United Kingdom each accounted for 1.1% of arrivals, while Belarusian nationals made up 1%. Citizens of other countries and stateless persons accounted for the remaining 12.2%. Compared with January-September 2025, the number of arrivals from European Union member states increased by 6.1% to 94,200 in the first nine months of 2026.

The main goal today should be to make Azerbaijan a destination that tourists specifically plan their trips around, rather than simply a place where they stop for a couple of days. In the age of digital technology and social media, digital promotion could play an equally important role in tourism development. International travel show producers, documentary filmmakers and bloggers could introduce audiences to lesser-known destinations, while carefully designed itineraries could help potential visitors plan their trips more easily.

It is also important to note that one of the first things tourists consider when choosing a holiday destination is how safe the country is. In this respect, Azerbaijan has an important advantage. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2026, Azerbaijan ranked 93rd, with a score of 0.123, placing it among the countries with the lowest levels of terrorism-related risk worldwide.

A reminder: The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) scores countries based on several indicators, including the number of terrorist incidents and deaths, the severity of their impact, hostage-taking, counterterrorism efforts and the effectiveness of terrorism investigations, among other factors.

Campaigns, lateness take toll on Senate’s quorum

The majority of senators have now abandoned plenary and committee duties as reelection campaigns take a toll on sitting quorum, according to findings by the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja.

Investigation also showed on Wednesday that the lawmakers who found time to attend plenary, did so late, with some resuming one to two hours behind schedule.

On Wednesday, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, arrived in the chamber at exactly 12.38pm, one hour, thirty-eight minutes behind the official 11am plenary resumption time. Several lawmakers followed suit.

The newspaper observed that before Akpabio’s arrival, his deputy, Senator Barau Jibrin, who took charge, had to wait for over one hour for more senators to arrive to form a quorum.

The Senate Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno, twice informed Barau that proceedings could not take place because there was no quorum.

The Senate’s quorum to sit and transact business is one-third of all its members.

Under Section 54(1) of the 1999 Constitution, at least 36 senators out of the total of 109 must be present for the commencement of any day’s business.

It states: ‘The quorum of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall be one-third of all the members of the Legislative House concerned.’

Investigations on Wednesday indicated that participation in re-election campaigns had been the drawback for the senators hoping to return in 2027 for the 11th Assembly.

With the polls less than 80 days (11.43 weeks) away on January 16, 2027, senators vying for a return are said to be preoccupied with campaigns in their senatorial districts.

Of the total of 109, at least 57 senators are seeking reelection on various political party platforms, with their attention currently shifted to distribution of palliatives, inauguration projects, rallies, consultations and town hall meetings, according to investigations.

‘They have said the elections are going to be tough back home and have to be closer to their bases.

‘Campaigns have taken a toll on them. They now breeze in and breeze out. There will hardly be full attendance before January 16 ‘, a legislative official informed the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the implication of Section 54(1) of the constitution ‘is that the Senate cannot validly conduct business without that minimum (36)’ as any senator could challenge a decision of the Senate taken without forming a quorum.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, did not respond to inquiries by the newspaper on Wednesday.

FG approves establishment of new Aerodrome in Rivers

The Federal Government has approved the development and construction of the proposed King Amachree Airport at Elem Ifoko Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The approval is contained in a letter dated October 26 2026 with reference number FMA/ADD/402/S.101/C.1/1/88 and addressed to the Executive Director of Royal Fouche Services Limited Prince Tonye Princewill.

The letter stated that the approval was subject to the fulfilment of specified requirements.

Signed by the Director of the Aerodrome Development Department on behalf of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development the letter said the proponents must prepare and submit a comprehensive airport master plan detailing the proposed development construction phases facilities and associated infrastructure.

It also required compliance with all applicable regulations of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) environmental laws and standards including an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and other relevant environmental studies. The proponents are also required to pay all applicable statutory fees.

Other conditions include the submission of a detailed topographical and obstacle survey referenced to the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS-84) as well as a comprehensive geotechnical investigation to assess the site’s subsurface conditions soil-bearing capacity groundwater characteristics and suitability for the proposed airport infrastructure.

The government also required detailed hydrological hydraulic and drainage studies to assess flooding risks tidal influences seasonal water movements and stormwater management at the proposed airport site.

The proponents must further submit an engineering assessment of the canal traversing the site to determine the most suitable solution including diversion or realignment of the canal or the construction of an appropriate bridge or other crossing structure.

The conditions also require the development of reliable all-weather road access to the proposed airport to support construction airport operations emergency response and passenger and cargo movement.

In addition the proponents are to provide a formal wind rose analysis and a detailed meteorological assessment in consultation with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

The letter further directed that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and its relevant agencies be involved throughout all stages of the airport’s development to provide technical oversight and ensure compliance with applicable International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) and other statutory and regulatory requirements.

Bread prices rise as bakers cite skyrocketing wheat, fuel costs

Bread manufacturers across Uganda, operating under the Uganda Bakers Association, have made an urgent appeal to the government to intervene and curb the escalating cost of production, specifically highlighting the soaring prices of wheat and diesel.

The manufacturers have also called on consumers to bear with them following a decision to increase bread prices nationwide.

Addressing journalists at a press conference hosted at Ntake Bakery in Nalukolongo, industry leaders explained that the price of crucial raw materials, particularly wheat flour, alongside diesel required for machinery and distribution fleets, has surged dramatically in recent months.

The association’s leadership noted that these rising operational expenses left them with no alternative but to adjust wholesale and retail bread rates to keep their businesses viable.

Canon Dr Gaster Lule Ntake, the chairperson of the Uganda Bakers Association, stated that manufacturers had absorbed the surging costs for as long as possible to cushion ordinary Ugandans from additional financial strain. He noted that despite their efforts to hold rates steady, the pressure on production margins eventually became unsustainable, forcing a modest upward adjustment across standard loaf sizes.

Under the updated pricing structure, a one-kilogram loaf of bread previously sold to retailers at Shs 5,000 at the factory level has increased to Shs 5,500. Consequently, end consumers purchasing the one-kilogram loaf from retail shops are now expected to pay between Shs 6,000 and Shs 6,500. A half-kilogram loaf, which previously left the factory floor at Shs 2,500, now costs Shs 3,000 wholesale, with retail prices projected to range between Shs 3,300 and Shs 3,500.

In light of these adjustments, Dr Ntake urged retailers and shop owners across the country not to exploit the situational rate changes by imposing excessive profit mark-ups on everyday consumers. He emphasized that the baking sector relies heavily on diesel fuel both to power heavy bakery equipment and to transport finished goods to retail outlets nationwide, making fuel price surges particularly damaging to the supply chain.

Adding to the sector’s grievances, Isaac Njoroge of Jonisa Bakers Limited, a member of the association, highlighted the industry’s deep reliance on global markets. He explained that roughly 80 percent of all raw materials used in commercial bread production in Uganda are imported, leaving local bakers highly exposed to international supply chain disruptions and foreign exchange volatility. He pointed out that the strength of the US dollar against the local currency has drastically increased the cost of importing essential inputs like wheat flour and baking additives.

The association reaffirmed its commitment to reviewing prices downward as soon as global wheat prices stabilize, exchange rates calm, and local fuel costs subside. In the interim, the bakers continue to petition relevant government ministries to consider targeted tax relief or policy interventions on key agricultural inputs and energy to protect both local manufacturing and consumer purchasing power.

Tinubu leaves for Makkah on spiritual reflection prayers

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will today embark on Umrah to Makkah Saudi Arabia after inaugurating the equipment acquired by the Nigerian Air Force for its operations at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja.

During the Lesser Hajj the President is expected to pray for peace unity stability and continued progress in Nigeria his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga confirmed in a statement yesterday.

Onanuga said the visit will provide an opportunity for spiritual reflection and devotion with the President seeking Allah’s guidance and blessings for the country and its people.

The statement reads: ‘The visit gives the President an opportunity for spiritual reflection devotion and prayers for Nigeria’s peace unity stability and continued progress.

‘While in Makkah Tinubu will perform the religious rites associated with Umrah an Islamic spiritual exercise involving a pilgrimage to the Holy City.’

The president is expected back in the country next week.

Fintiri threatens to sanction APC members who engage in anti-party activities

The Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has warned members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state against engaging in anti-party activities ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

He warned that any party member who supports candidates from other political parties in the 2027 general election will face sanctions.

Fintiri who issued the warning on Thursday in Yola during the inauguration of the Adamawa State APC Campaign Council urged members to close ranks and work collectively to secure victory for the party’s candidates at all levels.

He explained that APC campaign council members must also shun anti-party activities and deliver victory for the party across all local government areas and wards in the state.

‘We must close ranks and work as a family. You either work with us or you are out’ Governor Fintiri warned declaring that the party’s success depended on the commitment and loyalty of its members.

He directed campaign council members to ensure APC candidates win from the presidential election down to other elective positions.

Also speaking at the inauguration the state’s APC Chairman Hamza Bello Madagali declared that no presidential candidate other than President Bola Tinubu should secure 25 per cent of the votes cast in the state.

He urged members of the campaign council to treat their appointments as a privilege and to work diligently to elect all APC candidates.

Responding the Director-General of the Campaign Council Solomon Titus assured the governor that the council would work assiduously to secure victory for APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

Coalition leader urges citizens to support Tinubu Chinda others

The leader of Rainbow Coalition in Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State Prof. Henry Ogiri has called on the people to mobilise support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election and back Kingsley Chinda as the governorship candidate in the 2027 general election.

Ogiri equally called on the people to support all the candidates contesting positions under the coalition arrangement.

He spoke on the sidelines of the unveiling and presentation of flags to Chinda for the governorship election and other Rainbow Coalition candidates in Port Harcourt.

Addressing a mammoth crowd Ogiri hailed FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for his leadership style and performance.

He said the minister’s achievements had earned him and Rivers people in Abuja a lot of respect and recognition.

‘Wike is a sought after person. People from other parts of the country seek to meet with him one on one. My colleagues from the North have been asking me to help them meet Wike. I asked them why they wanted to see him they said just to have a handshake with him and receive his blessings.

‘This makes those of us living in Abuja to walk tall because his leadership style is top-notch’ Ogiri said.

He appealed to people to support Rainbow Coalition and vote for President Tinubu Chinda and other coalition candidates.

ADTN demands better welfare, career progression for dental technologists

The Association of Dental Technologists of Nigeria (ADTN) has called on the Federal Government to review the nomenclature of Dental Surgery Technology and improve the welfare and career progression of Dental Technologists across the country.

The association also renewed its demand for an enhanced entry point for Dental Technology Officers in recognition of their five-year university training, urging relevant authorities to expedite action on the proposal, which it said had been pursued for more than five years.

The demands were contained in a communique issued at the end of ADTN’s 38th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting (SCAGM), held in Dutse, Jigawa State, from October 8 to 9, 2026.

The conference, themed ‘Mentoring: A Tool for Shaping the Future of Dental Technology Profession in Nigeria,’ brought together healthcare professionals, government representatives, academics, labour leaders and other stakeholders to deliberate on the development of the profession.

The communique was jointly signed by Comrade Haruna Jethro Joe, General Secretary, and Dr. Eyarefe O. Stephen, National President of ADTN.

ADTN expressed concern over the circular on Dental Surgery Technology nomenclature, arguing that it had created confusion with the established and internationally recognised nomenclature of Dental Technology.

It urged the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities to reconsider the circular through consultations with professional associations, regulatory bodies and educational institutions.

The association also called on the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Council on Establishment to expedite consideration of its proposal for an enhanced entry point for Dental Technology Officers.

According to the communique, ADTN, in collaboration with the Dental Technologists Registration Board of Nigeria, had pursued the proposal through the appropriate channels for more than five years.

It further urged the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and other relevant agencies to ensure that Dental Technology Officers and Dental Technologists were explicitly recognised in applicable government circulars and official documents.

On welfare, the association called for improved working conditions, fair remuneration and consistent implementation of approved entitlements for eligible members, including the ward coat allowance.

The conference also advocated stronger mentorship programmes, continuing professional development and greater investment in digital dentistry, computer-aided design and manufacturing, three-dimensional printing and advanced dental materials.

The association reaffirmed its commitment to professional excellence, improved welfare, scientific advancement and constructive engagement with government and other stakeholders to advance Dental Technology and oral healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

FG arraigns fake agency DG Adeyemi in Court

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Thursday, arraigned the self-acclaimed Director-General of the ‘fake’ Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Matthew Adeniyi Adeyemi, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Adeyemi was arraigned before Justice Yusuf Halilu, sitting at Maitama, Abuja, on a 22-count charge bordering on forgery, false personation as a public servant, and obtaining over N27 billion to start the fake agency and N3.8 billion for personnel costs.

The prosecuting agency, ICPC, alleged in the charge that Adeyemi obtained the N30.8 billion from government coffers by forging a document addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

The prosecution alleged that, on March 8, 2024, in Abuja, the defendant forged a document, to

a letter Reference: SH/COS/209/A/3456 dated 8th March 8, 2024, purportedly signed/ issued by the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Right Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, appointing Adeyemi as the Director-General of the ‘fake’ PFIPC, with the intention of causing it to be believed as genuine and occupying government office facilities at the Federal Secretariat Complex Phase III.

ICPC claimed that the forged document was presented by the defendant as portraying himself as Director-General of the PIFPC in order to obtain government recognition and legitimacy for the purpose of carrying out his fraudulent activities.

Adeyemi was further alleged to have forged a document, captioned, ‘Re: Request for approval of self-accounting status’, addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation for the non-existent agency to operate within the government financial reporting structure.

He was also alleged to have forged documents to the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to get a domain name for the agency.

The prosecution accused Adeyemi of gifting N210,000 to Aminu Abdullahi, an Assistant Chief Technical Officer in the Office of the Secretary General of the Federation (OSFG), ‘to facilitate the allocation of office space,’ without official authorisation.

He was further alleged to have gifted the sum of N300,000 to an officer in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Ogaba Harry, to facilitate the release and handover of two official vehicles, a Prado Jeep and Land Cruiser Jeep, to him (Adeyemi).

ICPC also alleged that on July 29, 2025, the defendant collected he sum of N20 million from the Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, Oyekunle Gbenga, under the false pretence of a ‘project facilitation loan’, in respect of a purported contract valued at N2.8 billion awarded by the ‘fake’ agency for the procurement of furniture, electronics and refurbishment of his (Adeyemi’s) official residence.

According to ICPC, all the alleged offences were carried out between 2024 and 2026.

It added that the offences contravened Sections 364, 366, and 132 of the Penal Code Cap. 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990; Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act and Section 9(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 9(b) of the same Act.

Adeyemi, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him in the open court.

Following his not-guilty plea, the prosecuting counsel, Fatima Bardi, asked the court for a date for the commencement of trial to enable the prosecution to prove its case against the defendant.

Counsel for the defendant, Ibrahim Angulu SAN, on his part, applied orally to the court to grant the defendant bail, citing Adeyemi’s prolonged detention and health challenge.

According to him, Adeyemi had spent 155 days in detention and had obtained a health report from the police clinic, where he had been receiving treatment, to show his deteriorating health condition.

Justice Halilu, however, directed the defence counsel to file a written bail application.

He subsequently adjourned the case to November 9 for commencement of trial and possible hearing of the defendant’s bail application.

Tinubu is going to Saudi for Umrah, not treatment – Aide

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser Hajj (Umrah), rather than seek medical treatment, his Special Adviser on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, has said.

The aide made the clarification on Thursday in a post on X while responding to human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, who had questioned the purpose of Tinubu’s planned foreign trip and raised concerns about his health.

Olusegun said the President would use the religious pilgrimage to pray for Nigeria and seek God’s intervention for his re-election in 2027.

Sowore, in a post on Wednesday, alleged that the President was preparing for another overseas trip on Thursday, October 29, 2026, following his recent rally in Kaduna.

He also claimed that five governors, some ministers and prominent businesspeople were being assembled for the journey, suggesting that their presence could make it appear to be an official business visit.

‘Nigeria is in serious trouble! After the Kaduna rally, there are now indications that Bola Ahmed Tinubu #officialabat is being prepared for another foreign trip tomorrow, October 29, 2026, amid growing questions about his health.

‘Hearing that five governors, some ministers, and prominent businessmen are being assembled for the trip, apparently to give it the appearance of an official business visit.

‘Like Yar’Adua, like Tinubu?’ he tweeted.

Responding to the allegations, Olusegun maintained that Tinubu’s trip was for religious purposes, citing the President’s previous visits to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah in 2022.

‘President Tinubu is not heading to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. He is heading to the Holy Land for the Lesser Hajj (Umrah), like other Muslims across the world, to offer supplications for the country and commit his re-election journey into the hands of God.

‘This is not new… it is a regular practice among Muslims when they want to embark on any critical journey or attain a milestone. Mr Sowore, in case you have temporary amnesia, Bola Ahmed Tinubu travelled to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to perform Umrah (Lesser Hajj) twice in 2022… first in April 2022, before the APC primary election, and again in late December 2022, before the presidential election.

‘His prayers were answered on both occasions. It is only sensible to stick to a potent strategy; hence the President is going again. On Saturday, the President was in Kaduna to flag off his re-election campaign.

The presidential aide also pointed to Tinubu’s recent official engagements, including his Kaduna rally, meetings with former African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina and Nigerian Tourism Development Authority Director-General Ola Awakan, and his chairing of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Thursday.

‘Yesterday, he received the former AfDB President, Akinwumi Adesina, in an audience and separately hosted the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Ola Awakan. Today, the President chaired the FEC meeting, where some consequential decisions were made.

‘Mr Sowore, a ‘sick person’ would not have this many itineraries to accomplish. Mr President is fit as a fiddle, and no evil, as you are wishing for, will befall the People’s President,’ Olusegun stated.