BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 30. The Embassy of
Kazakhstan in Azerbaijan hosted an official ceremony today to sign
the founding documents establishing the joint Kazakh-Azerbaijani
tour operator “TurAn,” a new initiative aimed at strengthening
tourism cooperation between the two countries, Trend reports.
The event was attended by Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan,
Alim Bayel, representatives of Azerbaijan’s State Tourism Agency,
and leading industry experts.
The project has been implemented through the joint efforts of
Discover Jetisu (Kazakhstan) and Smile Azerbaijan Tour
(Azerbaijan), both of which have experience in international
tourism markets. "TurAn" has become the first joint private tourism
company between the two countries, with a 50/50 equity stake from
both sides. The company’s charter capital amounts to $100,000.
The company will provide a wide range of tourism services,
including ecotourism, cultural and gastronomic tours, as well as
medical and business tourism.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Alim Bayel highlighted the
successful development of bilateral relations across various
sectors, noting that the creation of a unified tour operator will
further strengthen cooperation and enhance the international appeal
of the region as a single tourist destination. He also emphasized
the positive dynamics in mutual tourism flows in recent years and
noted that similar initiatives aim to further increase tourist
exchanges.
The diplomat recalled that in 2024-2025, the Embassy of
Kazakhstan in Baku organized joint tourism forums aimed at
developing sectoral cooperation.
Air connectivity between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan is well
developed, with direct flights operated by airlines such as Air
Astana, FlyArystan, and Azerbaijan Airlines on routes linking Baku
with Astana, Almaty, Aktau, Atyrau, and Shymkent. The total number
of weekly flights exceeds 30.
The launch of "TurAn" is expected to contribute to the growth of
the tourism sector in both countries, boost investment activity,
and expand joint tourism products in international markets.
The signing ceremony brought together the heads of Discover
Jetisu (Kazakhstan) and Smile Azerbaijan Tour (Azerbaijan),
Aleksandr Aknazarov and Narina Makhmudova, who emphasized that the
creation of the unified tour operator TurAn marks an important step
toward deepening bilateral cooperation. They noted that the
initiative is expected to boost tourism flows, strengthen
investment and cultural ties, and enhance the region’s appeal as a
single, competitive international travel destination.
Discover Jetisu, established in 2012, is a key player in
Kazakhstan’s domestic tourism market and a co-founder of the
Kazakhstan Guides Association (KazGuide). The company is actively
expanding its outbound tourism segment, with a particular focus on
organizing leisure and business travel to Azerbaijan.
Founded in 2018, Smile Azerbaijan Tour provides a comprehensive
range of tourism services. A central pillar of its growth strategy
is its proprietary international platform Gettripto, which operates
as both a B2B and B2C marketplace for travel services. The company
partners with the Azerbaijan Tourism Board and works closely with
global tourism providers and technology platforms.
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