AITF 2012 kicks off in Baku

Baku, April 12 (AzerTAc). AITF 2012, the 11th Azerbaijan International Travel and Tourism Fair has today started in Baku Expo Center. The opening ceremony brought together governmental officials, deputies of the Milli Majlis, representatives of local and foreign tourism companies. Addressing the ceremony, Azerbaijan Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfaz Garayev provided information on progress achieved in establishment and development of tourism infrastructure in the country. AITF 2012, the largest tourism exhibition in the Caspian region, has become an important international professional forum where contracts were concluded. The exhibition is organized by ITE Group PLC (UK) and its partner in the Caucasus, Iteca Caspian. More than 200 companies, tour operators and organizations, which presenting 60 holiday destinations, such as the Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives, Thailand, Russia, Ukraine and Czech Republic are attending the AITF 2012. For the third consecutive year, the country partner of AITF is Turkey, which takes part in the exhibition with a collective stand. In addition, Dubai is participating with a national stand. The World Tourism Organization also has its separate stand. As usual, regional tourism in Azerbaijan is widely presented. At AITF 2012, a new theme is launched: Hunting and Fishing. Since its launch, the exhibition has been officially supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan, World Tourism Organization, National Confederation of Entrepreneurs` (Employers`) Organizations of Azerbaijan, and Association of International Tourism Exhibitions.