BAKU.03.12.2004. MEDIA-PRESS: By to date in Azerbaijan 135 - 140 tourist companies have licenses. However, further if these companies do not take part in international exhibitions, these companies will not receive licenses. The Minister of Youth, Sport and Tourism of Azerbaijan Mr. Abulfaz Garaev has said.
By his words, on the international tourist exhibition "World Travel Market" held in London recently only six tourist companies took part.
The Minister has emphasized importance of wide information exit to the international tourist market for attraction of large number of tourist in Azerbaijan. By his words, this year above 1 MM tourists will visit Azerbaijan. By results of 2002 incomes from the tourist business in the country have made 130.648 bn manats and in the past year this rate has grown up to 208.214 bn manats. Official rate of exchange on December 3 makes 4903 manats/$1.