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Destinations
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan Tourism Board / EU2750
This exciting new destination is bustling with everything from history and culture to world-class events. With easy on-arrival visit visas for residents of many countries, including the UAE, and a range of direct flights offered by budget airlines, including Flydubai, this previously undiscovered country is now gaining popularity. Good value hotels and easy movement within the country make it an escape worth considering before the word spreads further.
In the pre-COVID-19 era, numbers were rising fast and during the first nine months of 2019, the country saw record numbers, with 2.4 million foreign visitors from 191 countries visiting this coastal country by the Caspian Sea, more than 9.5 percent up from the same period in 2018. Tourists from Russia accounted for the largest portion or 30 percent of the overall visitor influx with Georgia coming in at number two with 22 percent, while Turkish travellers comprised 8.2 percent to claim the third largest portion. Iran,
Baku skyline
Sochi
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, India, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Israel and Kazakhstan followed the top three countries. It’s plain to see that this nation appeals to many. While nestled between Europe and Asia, it is a blend of historical empires, forging itself as a new nation emerging from the postSoviet 1990s as a must-see destination. Now hosting Formula 1 and Europa League football, the nation, tucked between the Caspian Sea and the majestic Great Caucasus Mountains, has much to offer tourists. Cosmopolitan Baku, the coastal capital city, boasts a UNESCO-listed centre while glittering with 21st-century architecture. But this home to several natural wonders has much to offer just a few hours’ drive away. Close by, in the semi-desert terrain, lie the country’s mud volcanoes and intriguing fire phenomena, which has resulted in Azerbaijan’s title as the ‘Land of Fire’. Slightly further afield, visitors feel that timeless sense of tradition in the more rural areas of the country, where lush green orchards are backed by the dramatic scenery of the Great Caucasus Mountains.
Old City, Baku
Tucked between the Caspian Sea and the Great Caucasus Mountains, Azerbaijan has much to offer Xinaliq
From the mountainous coastline to the gushing waterfalls found futher inland, Sochi’s well-rounded tourism proposition also comprises historical sites and a vibrant nightlife
Wow Sochi / EU2660
One of Russia’s southernmost cities, Sochi is located on the Black Sea coast and lies roughly 1,600 kilometres south of Moscow. As Russia’s busiest seaside resort, it attracts more than four million visitors every year. This resort town gained fame when its neighbouring resorts first hosted the Winter Olympics in 2014. Better known in the sporting world, Sochi is also home to the almost six-kilometre-long Sochi Autodrome circuit, the fourth-longest circuit
Having long been overlooked by visitors, Azerbaijan has now captured the world’s attention as a land of contrasts, with cultural traditions inspired by its location at the crossroads of Asia and Europe
on the Formula 1 calendar, which hosts the Russian Grand Prix. The town is often referred to as the ‘Russian Riveria’ as citizens flock to its sunny shores during the summer, thanks to its active recreation options and private beaches. Inland, visitors can find lush mountains, gushing waterfalls and historical sites, along with a vibrant nightlife scene. Just outside of town, the Agura Valley offers easily accessible hiking amid waterfalls and sublime views.
Sochi is located on the Black Sea coast and lies roughly 1,600 kilometres south of Moscow In 2019, Dubai-based carrier Flydubai started operating flights to the “Russian summer capital”, bringing an influx of visitors from the region to this blossoming destination.
Port of Sochi
Krasnaya Polyana valley
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