Baku: A new direct air route between Azerbaijan and China will be launched next year, Florian Sengstschmid, Chief Executive Officer of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, announced during a panel discussion held as part of the presentation of the World Bank's "Azerbaijan Country Economic Memorandum - Spring 2026" report.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Azerbaijan is continuing its efforts to expand access to new tourism markets, with a representative office having been opened in Beijing two months ago. Starting from May next year, Azerbaijan will have a new direct air connection with China. Furthermore, negotiations are underway with additional Chinese airlines to enhance this connectivity.

Florian Sengstschmid highlighted the remarkable growth in tourism from India, noting that until 2018, India was virtually absent from the list of countries sending tourists to Azerbaijan. Last year, however, the number of Indian tourists arriving in Azerbaijan reached between 256,000 and 260,000.

He also emphasized that geopolitical tensions remain a significant risk factor for the tourism sector, as political instability can directly impact people's movement between countries. Sengstschmid expressed confidence that Azerbaijan's tourism sector will see rapid development in the coming years through the implementation of priority measures identified in the World Bank's report, with the support of international partners.