Over the past two years, plant-based food consumption has grown by 49% across the EU, reaching a total sales volume of €3.6 billion.
Azerbaijan increases number of halal restaurants
2025-05-15
The large number of tourists visiting this year shows that tourism has becomeAzerbaijan（lie inTranscaucasiaSoutheast of Asia,Focus on developing the oil industry）Azerbaijan's tourism industry is a major economic sector. It contributes 4.5% to the country's GDP and welcomes over 2 million foreign tourists annually, as well as many domestic tourists.
Speaking of tourists, it is impossible to avoid the increasing number of visitors from Muslim countries. Due to the influx of Muslim guests, the country is now considering developing halal tourism, a classification of tourism that is consistent with Islamic laws and traditions.
The number of restaurants in Azerbaijan that meet halal standards is likely to increase due to the rise in the number of newly built restaurants, said Muzaffer Agakarimov, advisor to the chairman of the Azerbaijan Tourism Association (AzTA).
Agakarimov said: "Halal standards have been applied in some restaurants in Azerbaijan. There should be a separate swimming pool and prayer rooms for men and women. In restaurants that use halal standards, there should be no alcoholic beverages and food should be prepared according to halal standards. In the future, when some new restaurants are built, some entrepreneurs can set up their own halal standard configuration facilities. Entrepreneurs need additional investment to build these types of restaurants, so the implementation of these standards is not so easy. The application of halal standards in restaurants is related to the influx of tourists from halal countries."
However, Agakarimov believes that the implementation of halal standards is not mandatory. He said: "If any hotel wants to operate based on these standards, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Tourism Association can help hotels in the region."
The standards "Tourism and tourism services, halal management system, hotels" adopted in Azerbaijan this year aim to increase the number of tourists from Muslim countries to Azerbaijan.
Statistics show that there are currently 108 million Muslim tourists and this number is expected to reach 150 million by 2020.
It's worth noting that Azerbaijan has recently become a favorite tourist destination for many Arabs. These tourists primarily come from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Iraq. The proximity of Azerbaijan to these countries is one of the main reasons for the surge in tourists.
The 2016 GMTI survey of 130 tourist destinations showed that Azerbaijan ranked 20th among OIC countries.
The country's unparalleled historical and cultural heritage, along with its halal services, have earned Azerbaijan a spot on the list of top Muslim holiday destinations. In Azerbaijan, where modernity and sophistication meet halal regulations and contemporary culture, Muslim tourists can expect an unforgettable experience.
At the same time, this year GMTI will hold the 24th Halal Tourism Exhibition in Azerbaijan.