Using the Tourism Potential of Shahdag National Park of Azerbaijan

Abstract

The article presents the results of the study aimed at assessing the tourism potential of Shahdag National Park. Issues related to the use of tourism potential and the development of ecotourism in Shahdag National Park are discussed. The sources of the study were statistical indicators obtained from the State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the regulatory framework of protected natural sites, as well as various literary materials. The research employed systemic, evaluative, and statistical methods. As landscape types, the Red Book species, and tourist routes are of great significance to the tourism potential, we provide a comparative characteristic of these parameters in the national parks of Azerbaijan. The national parks were assessed by three parameters – landscape types, species listed in the Red Book, and tourist routes, which allowed distributing them into three groups. Given that tourist routes regulate the flow of tourists, we suggested developing a new one which will cover the territory of three regions – Shamakhi, Ismailli, and Guba. The conclusions proposed may be used for developing tourism in other national parks of the country.