On 06 May 2026, the Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB) and the Reserves Management Centre (RMC) delivered a “Tourism Business Startup and Finance” training session in the Basgal settlement of the Ismayilli district, attended by 17 local community members eager to translate Basgal’s growing tourism appeal into sustainable livelihoods.
The training was designed to equip participants with the foundational knowledge required to establish and manage tourism-related enterprises, with a strong emphasis on financial planning and sustainable income generation within rural destinations. Participants were guided through the key stages of setting up a tourism business - from generating and validating business ideas through market analysis and visitor profiling to designing competitive tourism products and services.
Particular attention was given to the breadth of opportunity available within Basgal itself, including family-run guesthouses, traditional handicraft enterprises, local gastronomy experiences, and cultural tours. Examples of successful rural tourism models from both within Azerbaijan and internationally were presented to illustrate practical pathways and inspire participants to take their first steps as tourism entrepreneurs.
The financial literacy component of the training covered budgeting, pricing strategies, income and expense tracking, and approaches to achieving long-term financial sustainability with limited initial capital. Participants also received practical guidance on digital marketing, social media promotion, and the use of online platforms to attract visitors and build business reputations. The importance of service quality, professional communication, and positive customer reviews as drivers of bookings and business growth was emphasised throughout.
The session was delivered in an interactive format, with open discussions enabling participants to address questions relevant to their own ideas and circumstances. The training is one of a series of capacity-building initiatives organised by ATB and RMC as part of a broader programme to support community-based tourism development in Basgal, in alignment with the Basgal Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2026-2028 and the Ismayilli Regional Tourism Development Action Plan.
