Baku: Azerbaijan has officially outlined activities that are prohibited within its tourism and recreation zones, following amendments to the Law “on Tourism” approved by President Ilham Aliyev. These amendments aim to safeguard the integrity of these zones by restricting activities that could potentially harm the environment or disrupt the tourism industry.

According to Azeri-Press news agency, the newly defined prohibitions include activities related to the chemical industry, metallurgy, and nuclear energy. The operations of large industrial enterprises, particularly those involved in the production of technological equipment and machinery, are also banned. Additionally, activities concerning the disposal and processing of waste, along with the installation of facilities and landfills for these purposes, are not permitted within these zones.

Moreover, any activities mentioned in the annex to the “Law on Environmental Impact Assessment” (EIA) require the preparation of an EIA document and must pass a state
ecological expertise. Activities that do not necessitate an EIA but still require state ecological expertise must also receive a positive conclusion from this assessment to proceed. These measures aim to ensure that the tourism and recreation zones remain environmentally sustainable and free from industrial disruptions.