September 27 is World Tourism Day. The first travel agency in history was opened in 1841 by Thomas Cook. Since 1925, this organization has been operating in Geneva under various names. On September 27, 1970, the World Tourism Organization was formed. The headquarters of the tourist organization in 1979 moved to Madrid. September 27 was established as World Tourism Day. It is celebrated in more than 150 countries of the world, including Azerbaijan.
    
This day has been celebrated in Azerbaijan since 2001. In the same year, at the 14th General Assembly of the UN World Tourism Organization held in Seoul, Azerbaijan became a member of this organization.
    
The purpose of the holiday is to promote tourism, contribute to the economy of the world community, develop ties between the peoples of different countries.
     
September 27 is also a professional holiday for tourism workers in our country. On the basis of the Order signed by President Ilham Aliyev on September 1, 2016, World Tourism Day is celebrated in our country as the "Day of Tourism Workers".
     
The creation of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan on the basis of the Decree of President Ilham Aliyev "On some measures to improve public administration in the field of culture and tourism" dated April 20, 2018 is the logical result of an integrated approach to these processes.
    
From the first day of its establishment, the State Tourism Agency has begun to carry out large-scale work on the formation of the tourism industry, the implementation of tourism policy, the involvement of representatives of the industrial sector in this process, the promotion of the country's tourism potential in foreign markets, the protection of historical, cultural, natural monuments and material and cultural heritage, located in the reserves under the State Agency, turning them into more interesting places for tourists.
      
At present, a lot of work is being done in the direction of reconstruction and restoration of our historical monuments (fortresses, temples, nature reserves). Restoration and conservation work has been carried out in a number of monuments located on the territory of the country, such as the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, the Mohammed Mosque, the Small Caravanserai, the Market Square, the School-Mosque (Baku), the Palace of Sheki khans”, fortress walls, the Albanian temple in the village of Kish (Sheki region), the tomb of Gudi Khatun (Sharur region), the religious and cultural complex Ashabi-Kahf (Babek region), the Mausoleum of Nizami Ganjavi (Ganja), etc. These works are important for future generations. The decree of the head of state on the approval of the “State Program for the Restoration, Protection of Immovable Monuments of History and Culture, Improvement and Development of the Activities of Historical and Cultural Reserves for 2014-2020” was a continuation of the measures being implemented in this area.
    
Although serious work has been done towards the development of tourism in Azerbaijan in recent years, Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, which have the greatest tourism potential, remained aloof from these processes, as they were under occupation. This region, which impresses with its enchanting nature, clean air, healing waters and historical monuments, is now liberated from the enemy. Life in these lands of Azerbaijan is being revived again. Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur became the center of large-scale construction and improvement of the lives of people returning to the liberated lands.
    
Karabakh has all the possibilities for the development of various types of tourism. It is no coincidence that in his speeches, President Ilham Aliyev always emphasizes that tourism is one of the main areas of activity in the liberated territories. He emphasizes that Karabakh and East Zangezur have a rich tourism potential: “This potential allows the region to become one of the main tourist areas in Azerbaijan. Although our cultural and historical monuments were destroyed, after their restoration it will be possible to organize tours to these destinations.”
    
The tourism potential of our region is wide. From this point of view, Zangilan and Kalbajar are one of the most important regions of Azerbaijan with large underground and surface resources. There are healing thermal springs here. Previously, tourists from different parts of the world came, were treated, and rested in sanatoriums with thermal springs. There is no doubt that with the commissioning of such sanatoriums in Kalbajar, Shusha and Zangilan, local and foreign tourists will visit these centers.
    
Fizuli International Airport will play an exceptional role in the development of tourism in the region in the future. In addition, the design and construction of the Ahmedbeyli-Fizuli-Shusha highway, based on the President's order, will make Fizuli, Khojavend and Shusha accessible to tourists.
   
The rich and diverse tourism potential of our country allows the formation of various destinations. There are several such areas: wine tourism, hiking, winter tourism in Gusar, Gabala and Nakhchivan, cultural tourism of German and Jewish heritage, health tourism (Naftalan, Duzdag), objects of cultural and historical heritage in our reserves that have a tourist purpose, also Agrotourism and ornithological tourism have recently gained popularity among the areas of modern tourism.

Azerbaijan, which has a rare natural beauty, a rich historical past, material cultural monuments and a favorable geographical position, today attracts the attention of the whole world. The hospitality of our people, the state policy in the field of tourism, which has been successfully implemented in recent years, and the relevant implemented projects have increased interest in Azerbaijan. Of course, all this will contribute to the fact that our country will soon become one of the world's tourism centers.
    
The training of qualified personnel in the field of tourism is important in terms of improving the quality of service. In this regard, the activities under the State Tourism Agency of the Azerbaijan University of Tourism and Management, the Baku Vocational School of Tourism and the Mingachevir College of Tourism are of particular importance.

Recommended literature:

1. Mirzəyev, Anar Faiq oğlu. Azərbaycanda turizm potensialından istifadənin səmərəliliyinin artırılması istiqamətləri: iqt. üzrə fəls. d-ru e. dər. al. üçün təq. ed. dis.: 5312.01 /A. F. Mirzəyev ; Azərb. Resp. Mədəniyyət və Turizm Nazirliyi, Azərb. Turizm və Menecment Un-ti. - Bakı: 2016. - 161 s.
2. Kasumov, Rüfət Məmməd oğlu. Beynəlxalq turizm bazarı : monoqrafiya / R. M. Kasumov ; elmi red. Ş. H. Hacıyev ; Azərbaycan Dövlət İqtisad Universiteti. - Bakı : İqtisad Universiteti nəşriyyatı, 2012. - 270 s.
3. Qurbanov, Firudin İsa oğlu. Azərbaycanda turizmin inkişaf problemləri /F. İ. Qurbanov ; elmi red. Ş. M. Muradov ; elmi məsləhətçi R. R. Quliyev ; AMEA, İqtisadiyyat İn-tu. - Bakı: Adiloğlu, 2007. - 343 s.
4. Soltanova, Həbibə. Azərbaycan Respublikasında turizm və onun inkişafı / H. Soltanova; Azərbaycan Respublikası Təhsil Nazirliyi Bakı Dövlət Universiteti.- Bakı: AzTU, 2015.- 475 s.
5. Миришли, Фуад Рашид оглы. Развитие международного туризма в контексте возрождения Великого Шелкового пути: [монография] /Ф. Р. Миришли ; [ред. И. Е. Еремеев]. - Москва: Известия, 2017. - 508 с.
6. Еганлы, Сиявуш Теймур оглы. Международный туризм и развитие туризма в Азербайджанской Республике: [монография] /С. Т. Еганлы, Э. М. Гаджиев; науч. ред. Е. Г. Мехралиев; ред. З. А. Азизова. - Баку: 2003. - 292 с.