Business Opportunities in Azerbaijan for Students and Young Entrepreneurs

1. Why Azerbaijan is a Growing Tourism Hub

Hello, in today’s blog we are going to discuss that if you come to Azerbaijan and want to start a small business, then what kinds of businesses could those be that you can do. There are multiple options, but if you are a student, you are young, and you know the English language, then I would suggest that you start working here as a tourist guide. Besides that, there are many options. You can register your company and do some small business. You can do mobile repairing, laptop repairing, you can do online exchange, you can buy things here at wholesale and sell them on online sites. Along with that, you can provide pick-and-drop services from the airport, you can take tourist families from one city to another for sightseeing, and you can do car wash business, or if you want to build your own restaurant then you can do that business. Many things depend on digital systems, but because students are such companions of ours who have very little capital and want to do something with low capital, today we will discuss that if you come to Azerbaijan as a student, take admission in a language course, and after that if you want to work as a tourist guide, then what potential there is for you and how you can do it.

2. Azerbaijan’s Tourism Potential and Global Visitor Growth

Regarding tourism and tourist guides, we have some questions from Amna, and we would like to ask some things based on your comments. Everything is written here, so let us begin.

What is so special about Azerbaijan that it can be chosen regarding tourism? And after coming here, in the tourism sector or tourist guide sector, what kinds of businesses are there? You have already guided before, so I would again like to take this topic today regarding tourism.

First of all, this is a tourism country. Annually around 5 million tourists come to Azerbaijan every year, and a lot of tourists are coming from the Middle East. After that, if we talk, many people come here from Europe, UK, and Canada for business. In the same way there is Japan, Korea, and along with that recently there are also many tourists from India and Pakistan.

By regional tourism I mean from Iran, Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. So almost 5 million tourists. The population of this country is only 10 million. So if 5 million tourists are coming to a country with a population of 10 million, then this means this is very good. I am talking only about the last 2–3 years, and because of Corona you know the tourism industry was affected a lot.

3. Government Support and Investment Opportunities in Tourism

Very much, and along with that there are nature lovers because Azerbaijan is a beautiful mountain range, and the people here are very beautiful and very friendly. Along with that, we have pleasant and enjoyable weather. Snowfall happens only for one month; the rest of the year the weather remains very beautiful and pleasant. It is crime-free, and because of this you can say geographically also it is in such a position that people come here from the Middle East as well as Europe and other countries.

And the Azerbaijan government has invested billions of dollars in the tourism sector. Tourist spots have been made, infrastructure has been built, hotels have been built, the transport system has been improved, immigration system at the airport has been improved, e-visas have been started. So billions of dollars have been invested so that the tourism sector grows.

And along with that, businessmen who are investing in the tourism sector are given many facilities. Under a simplified tax system, you don’t need any special license. If you want to build a hotel, hostel, tourist resort, or provide any tourist services, then you simply register a company, take a tax number called mobile, and start your work. So the government has facilitated a lot because tourism is growing very fast here.

4. How Students Can Start a Tour Guide Business in Azerbaijan

Sir, is this a reasonable country? About like you say America—

Our visitors mostly go to America, Canada, UK, and upper-class people. Middle or lower income people go to Malaysia, Thailand, or other countries for visits.

So I would say you go to those countries, but you may not understand the potential there. Azerbaijan is a Muslim country. Here you can have business scope and investment scope. Along with that, visa is easy to get, transport and other facilities are easy, air tickets and everything.

So it is a friendly country for visiting, but along with visiting, you should see business and investment scope here and keep a second option for yourself. It is a beautiful country, and there is no crime here. You have seen even the police do not carry guns, and people also do not have weapons.

Even if you go out at 2:00 at night, you do not feel fear that someone will snatch your money or mobile or threaten your life.

Alhamdulillah, if I say in simple words, if there is any piece of heaven in the world, then come visit Azerbaijan, stay 15–20 days, and you will feel that if there is heaven anywhere in the world, it is Azerbaijan.

And I would add one more point that if you come here as a student, many tourists are coming here. If you know the English language, then first you should explore the country yourself, explore Baku, and after that you can offer services through your Instagram, Facebook groups, and different travel agencies that you are available as a tour guide.

You can take family visitors from Baku to Quba, to Gabala, to Shaki, to Lerik, or visit other cities. Along with that, you can also provide city tours inside Baku.

And if someone wants a business visit, then I am available, because local people here do not know English language. So you have this potential and by working 2–4 hours as a short tour guide, you can earn good income.

So there is good potential. People who do not understand what work they should do—I would say start small as a tourist guide and then gradually develop yourself. Build your own car, take families in your car, do airport pick-and-drop, then city-to-city trips.

For example, if someone charges around 200 manat for a day trip, car expense is 40–50 manat, make it 150 profit. So if he takes even 10 trips per month, you can understand how much he can save.

You just need ideas and you need to know how to work hard. Therefore I would say for brothers who keep looking for work, it is necessary that they start working as a tourist guide and then gradually develop themselves.