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Wego and Azerbaijan Tourism Board showcase Azerbaijan to MENA travelers

Travel Daily News

5 days ago

Business
Travel Daily News

Wego and Azerbaijan Tourism Board showcase Azerbaijan to MENA travelers

Wego partners with Azerbaijan Tourism Board to position Azerbaijan as a year-round MENA wellness, culture, and adventure destination through curated campaigns. DUBAI, UAE – Wego announce its latest strategic partnership with the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, spotlighting Azerbaijan as an all-season destination tailored for curious, culture-driven, and wellness-seeking travelers from the MENA region. With an increasing demand from Middle Eastern travelers for immersive, nature-connected, and wellness-rich holidays, this collaboration focuses on elevating Azerbaijan's appeal beyond the well known cityscapes of Baku. From the mineral rich thermal springs to the healing Naftalan oil, and alpine retreats in Shahdag, Azerbaijan is rapidly emerging as the region's best-kept secret for holistic getaways, cultural exploration, and thrilling outdoor adventures in lush nature. Mamoun Hmidan, Chief Business Officer at Wego, commented: 'This partnership comes at a time when MENA travelers are seeking experiences that combine authenticity, wellness, and natural beauty. Azerbaijan offers all of this, with an added layer of hospitality that feels like home. Through this collaboration, we aim to bring a fresh narrative to light and guide our users to discover the rich, untapped potential of Azerbaijan across all seasons.' The campaign will highlight key themes such as wellness tourism, cultural heritage trails, eco-luxury stays, and culinary adventures from tasting premium caviar to exploring the Silk Road routes that weave through Sheki. Wego and the Azerbaijan Tourism Board will drive content across multiple digital touchpoints, supported by storytelling, influencer led itineraries, and exclusive travel bundles designed for GCC travelers. Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, commented: 'We are excited to partner with Wego to reposition Azerbaijan as a year-round destination full of surprises. With its proximity, great connectivity, and rich diversity of experiences from snow-covered mountains to subtropical forests Azerbaijan is a perfect match for travelers from the Middle East looking for something both close and captivating. Together with Wego, we'll ensure these stories reach the right audience at the right time.' This collaboration reflects Wego's commitment to redefining how travelers from the MENA region discover new and meaningful destinations. By combining Wego's real-time travel insights and consumer behavior data with Azerbaijan Tourism Board's in-depth local knowledge, the partnership will deliver curated experiences, dynamic campaigns, and data-driven storytelling. Together, both entities aim to unlock new travel corridors, amplify Azerbaijan's visibility among GCC and broader MENA audiences, and inspire a new wave of regional explorers seeking more than just a vacation and an unforgettable journey.

UN experts urge release of Azerbaijani rights defender

Arab News

5 days ago

Politics
Arab News

UN experts urge release of Azerbaijani rights defender

GENEVA: Four UN special rapporteurs on Monday demanded the release of Azerbaijani rights defender and climate advocate Anar Mammadli, who has been in detention for more than a was detained on April 29, 2024. His arrest was one of a series which critics said undermined Azerbaijan's credibility as a host of the United Nations COP29 climate change conference in November last chaired the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center, which reported irregularities during the February 2024 presidential elections in the tightly controlled, oil-rich arrest also came after he participated in events at the UN Human Rights Council, the special rapporteurs said in a statement.'Defending human rights should never be considered a crime,' the experts said.'There are serious concerns that Mammadli's detention and prosecution may be in retaliation for his human rights work and his engagement with UN mechanisms,' they risks up to eight years behind bars on smuggling charges, which rights groups claim are bogus.'Civic participation, independent election monitoring, and cooperation with international mechanisms are the foundation of democratic societies,' the experts said.'Criminalizing these activities undermines the rule of law.'The statement was issued by the special rapporteurs on human rights defenders, on freedom of peaceful assembly, the right to freedom of opinion and on called on Azerbaijan to respect due process, guarantee Mammadli's fundamental rights and provide him with appropriate medical also urged Baku to end all forms of intimidation against rights special rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to report their findings. They do not speak for the United Nations itself.