ASSESSMENT OF TOURIST RESOURCES IN THE MOUNTAINOUS SHIRVAN ECONOMIC REGION (USING SHAMAKHI AND ISMAYILLI DISTRICTS AS EXAMPLES)

G.R. Agakishiyeva, G.A. Hidayatli

Institute of Geography PLE, Ministry of Science and Education, Baku, Azerbaijan

guneshagakishiyeva@gmail.com

DOI: 10.59423/gnr.2026.76.90.008

Abstract. In modern conditions, tourism occupies a special place among development trends due to its socio-economic efficiency. For most countries, tourism serves as a major source of government revenue and has become one of the most promising sectors of the national economy. Since tourism has a significant impact on sectors such as transportation, construction, communications, trade, agriculture, and the production of consumer goods, the study of tourist resources is of particular importance. The article examines the natural tourist resources of the Shamakhi and Ismayilli districts, as well as the Shahdag National Park, Ismayilli State Nature Reserve, Lahij State Historical and Cultural Reserve, Basgal State Historical and Cultural Reserve, and Shamakhi Safari Park. The possibilities of their use in tourism, including sports tourism, have been analyzed. As historical and cultural tourist resources, architectural and archaeological monuments of global and national significance were studied, including the Demirchi Archaeological Museum, the Mirza Alakbar Sabir House Museum, the Seyid Azim Shirvani Historical and Local Lore Museum, the Ismayilli Historical and Local Lore Museum, and the Grape and Wine Festival. As a result of the study, well-grounded conclusions were made regarding the development of hunting, ecological, cultural-historic, and health tourism, as well as sports tourism, in the Sha-makhi and Ismayilli districts. The results obtained from the archival ma-terials of the State Statistical Committee and the Institute of Geography can be used in the socio-economic development programs of the Shamakhi and Ismayilli districts.

Keywords: tourism, natural tourist resources, historical and cultural resources, cultural heritage, sports tourism.

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Accepted for publication: November 20, 2025

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G.R. Agakishiyeva, G.A. Hidayatli – Assessment of tourist resources in the Mountainous Shırvan economic regıon (using Shamakhi and Ismayilli districts as examples). Geography and Natural Resources, №2 (24), 2025, pp. 52-61.