Member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) are exploring the possibility of launching tourist train routes connecting their countries and potentially extending beyond the region.
According to a statement from the OTS cited by Report, a special working group has been established to study the initiative. The group will include representatives from the railway administrations and tourism agencies of member countries.
Between January and August 2025, Azerbaijan welcomed 428,456 tourists from OTS member states – a 7.4% increase compared with the same period in 2024 (399,085 visitors).
Tourists from Turkey accounted for the largest share, with 289,952 visitors (+2.6% year-on-year), followed by Kazakhstan (69,332; +19.4%), Uzbekistan (37,718; +27.8%), Turkmenistan (21,422; +1.7%), Kyrgyzstan (7,093; +33%), and Hungary (2,939; +14%).
Overall, travelers from OTS countries represented 24.9% of Azerbaijan’s total tourist arrivals during the period.
In July 2025, OTS member states signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation in Ankara, aimed at promoting sustainable travel, easing cross-border mobility, and boosting regional connectivity.
