Baku: It is planned to increase the share of tourism-characteristic industries in Azerbaijan's non-oil and gas GDP to 8.6% by 2030, APA-Economics reports. This goal is outlined in the 'State Program for the Development of Tourism in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2026-2030,' approved by an Order of President Ilham Aliyev dated August 20, 2026.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the Program aims to elevate the share of tourism-characteristic industries in non-oil and gas GDP from 7.5% in 2025 to 7.6% in 2026, reaching 8.1% in 2028, and eventually 8.6% by 2030. This represents an increase of 1.1 percentage points over the period. Additionally, the value added generated in tourism-characteristic industries is projected to rise from 6.963 billion manats in 2025 to 12.171 billion manats in 2030, targeting approximately 40% real growth.

The Program also anticipates significant growth in tourist accommodation and food service activities, with the value added expected to increase from 3.573 billion manats to 6.189 billion manats, indicating approximately 41.6% real growth. The average annual real growth target for this sector has been set at 7.2%.

Furthermore, the Program aims to nearly double the spending of foreign tourists in Azerbaijan. Tourism revenues are projected to surge from 3.3 billion manats in 2025 to 6.3 billion manats by 2030. Notably, in 2025, nearly 7 billion manats of value added was generated in tourism-characteristic industries, with the sector's share in the overall economy rising to a historic high of 5.4%, surpassing the pre-pandemic maximum of 4.5% recorded in 2019 by 0.9 percentage points.