Destination Development and
Institutionalization Strategies
In the OIC Member Countries
65
c. The role of DMOs with regard to stakeholders
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism engages with industry stakeholders through the Industry Relations
Section. The Ministry holds periodic general Public-Private Sector meetings in Baku.233 It also holds monthly
community meeting sessions in the different regions of the country, where the role of culture and tourism is
explained.234
4. Funding sources for DMOs
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as a government entity, receives public funds to enable it to conduct its
role in terms of the development and marketing of Azerbaijan and its various tourist destinations. With the
expected introduction of new Law on Tourism, new channels of funding will be available mainly to public-
private partnership organization as in the case of the Convention Bureau.235
With respect to financial accountability, there is an annual audit of the Ministry performed by the Accounting
Charter of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which is the government agency that reviews spending of public funds.
In terms of transparency, there are monthly, quarterly and annual reports prepared for Minister of Culture
and Tourism covering the activities performed over the covered period. These reports are later summarized
into semi-annual and annual reports submitted Cabinet of Ministers and Administration of President. Annual
briefs, updates and press-releases are also provided to media outlets through the press-service of the
Ministry. 236
5. Key Performance Indicators for DMOs
From 2012 to 2014, Azerbaijan conducted a benchmarking and good practice study process to learn from
experiences of other destinations, including field visits to Lithuania and Austria, Currently, the Ministry of
Culture and Tourism uses a number of performance indicators to measure the efficiency of its activities
including:
 the number of tourists’ arrivals,
 trends in tourists’ arrivals from top source markets,
 tourism industry contribution to Gross Domestic Product
 and measurement of tourist satisfaction based on exit surveys conducted at airports.237
There is nomeasurement of performance in terms of efficiency of specificmarketing activities or implemented
product development projects.
233 Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan. (2017, June 8). Milli Turizm Təbliğat Bürosu ilə turizm şirkətləri arasında
görüş keçirildi [Press release]. Retrieved fro
234 Abulfas Garayev will receive citizens in Tovuz [Web log post]. (2015, March 18). Retrieved from
235 Yeni turizm qanunu ilk oxunuşdan keçdi [Web log post]. (2017, May 02). Retrieved fro
236 Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan. (2018). Retrieved fro
237 Using the EU Institution Building Instruments (Twinning/TAIEX/SOCIEUX/SIGMA) in Azerbaijan [Brochure]. (2017). Retrieved from