Factors influencing tourism development in the Ganja-Gazakh settlement system of Azerbaijan: an urban planning analysis

Abstract

The article examines the prerequisites and factors of tourism development in the Ganja–Gazakh settlement system of Azerbaijan. Covering 14.4% of the country’s territory, this region possesses significant natural-recreational, cultural-historical, and socio-economic potential. Based on archival, statistical, and project materials, a systematization of factors influencing tourism activities has been carried out, including natural-geographical, cultural-historical, infrastructural, socio-demographic, and financial-economic aspects. Particular attention is paid to identifying the relationship between tourism and the settlement system of the region, as well as to a comparative analysis with neighboring countries (Georgia, Turkey, Iran, Russia). The study concludes on the role of tourism in shaping the sustainable development of the region and its integration into national and transboundary tourist routes.