The Institute of Geography of the Ministry of Science and Education has achieved another success in its scientific activities. The research project titled “Study of the Geographical and Geoecological Foundations of Sustainable Tourism Development in the Guba-Khachmaz Economic Region”, submitted by the Institute, has been selected among the winners of the grant competition organized by the Azerbaijan Science Foundation.
In response to an inquiry by AZERTAC, the Institute stated that the main objective of the project is to scientifically assess the ecotourism, mountain tourism, and rural tourism potential of the Guba-Khachmaz economic region, one of Azerbaijan’s important tourism destinations, identify ways to make more efficient use of its existing potential, and develop a sustainable model that harmonizes tourism development with environmental protection.
The results of the project will be important not only for the Guba-Khachmaz region but also for the scientifically grounded development of sustainable tourism across Azerbaijan. Within the framework of the project, the region’s natural landscapes, mountain and forest ecosystems, tourism resources, existing infrastructure, and transport accessibility will be studied through field research. One of the key areas of the research will be the identification of tourism centers. This will help ensure that the environmental impact of expanding tourism activities, the protection of sensitive landscapes, and the long-term development of tourism are addressed through scientifically grounded planning.
The results obtained during the implementation of the project will have practical significance for Azerbaijan’s tourism sector. The scientific recommendations and spatial data to be developed may help identify the potential of villages and mountainous areas whose tourism opportunities remain underutilized, support the development of new tourism destinations, encourage the involvement of local communities in tourism activities, and contribute to increased economic activity in the regions. At the same time, establishing a balance between tourism development and the protection of natural resources and landscapes is of particular importance for sustainable regional development in the country.
The implementation of the grant project at the Institute of Geography creates new opportunities to build on the Institute’s long-established scientific expertise in tourism research and its extensive experience in studying Azerbaijan’s regions using modern methodologies. One of the Institute’s strengths is its ability to bring together various fields of physical and socio-economic geography within the same scientific environment and to integrate field research with modern approaches such as GIS and spatial analysis. The achievement in the Azerbaijan Science Foundation’s grant competition represents an important step toward transforming the Institute’s research into modern, competitive, and application-oriented scientific projects. The project also creates new opportunities to apply the Institute’s scientific potential to addressing the country’s socio-economic and regional development challenges.
At the conclusion of the project, a sustainable tourism development model, thematic maps, scientific findings, and practical recommendations are expected to be developed, providing a useful scientific basis for relevant institutions. The project’s findings are also expected to be presented to the international scientific community.
Thus, the project aims both to contribute to the sustainable development of Azerbaijan’s regions and to further demonstrate the practical applications of geographical science in the country.
