President Ilham Aliyev has reviewed the 11th Azerbaijan International Travel and Tourism Fair AITF-2012 at the Baku Exhibition Center.

The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Abulfaz Garayev, informed the President that the fair, featuring 62 areas of tourism, has been joined by 201 companies from 32 countries around the world. The exhibition is taking place with support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and has been organized by ITE Group plc and its partner Iteca Caspian LLC. Partner country is Turkey, while the “Azerbaijan Airlines” Closed Joint-Stock Company is the official airline of the show. Travel company SW Travel has been sponsoring the AITF for the second consecutive year. Exhibition-related activities have involved a broad network of partners and agencies of ITE Group plc throughout the world. These include such well-known names as ITE (London), EUF (Turkey), GIMA (Germany) and ITE Gulf (Dubai).

It was noted that various meetings are held on the margins of the already traditional show, cooperation agreements signed and information exchanged on new tourism programs and prices.

The President was informed that the number of participating countries has been growing by the year. This year the fair has been joined by debutants such as Qatar, Poland, Vietnam, Slovakia, Croatia. The list of participants includes the world’s leading airlines. Bulgaria acts as the guest country of the AITF-2012. Participation of the World Trade Organization with a separate pavilion confirms the interest of the AITF-2012 to international participants.

It was noted that a distinctive feature of this exhibition is that some of it is devoted to wellness centers and health resorts.

Health resorts are exhibited by Bulgaria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Russia and Ukraine.

It was indicated that the stands featuring Azerbaijan describe projects of the country’s leading travel companies, as well as recreation and health centers. The expositions of local companies attract the attention with the logo and the slogan of the Eurovision-2012 song contest due to be held in Baku next month.

President Ilham Aliyev toured the exhibition pavilions.