15:32 - 21.06.2025

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June 21, Fineko/abc.az. Global experience shows that entertainment and gaming tourism increases the influx of foreign tourists to the regions, ABC.AZ report, quoting Chairman of the Milli Majlis Committee on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship Azer Amiraslanov as saying this at today's plenary session of the parliament.

According to the MP, entertainment and gaming tourism contributes to the creation of new jobs in hotels, restaurants and other service sectors, as well as attracting foreign and local investments in tourism infrastructure:

"This area brings additional income to the budget, becomes one of the economic channels that ensure the inflow of foreign currency into the country. However, the main point that should be emphasized is that the Bill "On the creation of artificial land plots in the Azerbaijani-owned part of the Caspian Sea (Lake)" is in no way intended to create a gambling business in the country. If such opinions exist, they are completely wrong."

 Amiraslanov noted that gambling is just an additional component of "premium" and "elite" tourism: "This area may have certain indirect economic effects in the future, but it does not form the basis of either entrepreneurial activity or the non-oil sector. Neither our state nor our society associate the prospects of the country's economic development with this area."

The MP added that gambling is only one of about 160 types of business activities in Azerbaijan that require licensing and permission: "Following 2024, the number of business entities operating in Azerbaijan exceeds 322,000. Of them, 76,000 have the status of a legal entity. The main priorities of state's economic policy are building a competitive national economy, supporting innovative initiatives, industrialization, developing the agricultural sector, and expanding export and transit potential."