Azerbaijan's Hotel Nights Fall 6.6% in Nine Months as Revenue Edges Up

Hotels and similar establishments in Azerbaijan recorded 3,239.3 thousand nights in January to September 2026, 6.6 per cent fewer than a year earlier, while their revenue rose 0.6 per cent to 497.3 million manats, the State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan (Azstat) said on 28 October.

The Azstat release on the activities of hotels and similar establishments shows a sector earning about the same money from fewer guest nights. The share of rooms used, which Azstat reports as one-time use of rooms, fell to 23.0 per cent from 25.0 per cent in the same period of 2025.

Foreign guests and where they stayed

Foreigners and stateless persons spent 1,845.6 thousand nights in hotels, 4.7 per cent fewer than a year earlier, and accounted for 57.0 per cent of all nights. Citizens of Azerbaijan accounted for the other 43.0 per cent, with 1,393.7 thousand nights. By CBJ's calculation from the release's figures, nights spent by Azerbaijani citizens fell by about 9 per cent, a steeper decline than among foreign guests.

Citizens of Türkiye spent 12.1 per cent of all nights, followed by the Russian Federation with 11.3 per cent, Israel with 9.2 per cent, Saudi Arabia with 6.0 per cent, India with 5.8 per cent and China with 5.4 per cent. Pakistan and Uzbekistan had 4.2 per cent each and Kazakhstan 4.1 per cent. Georgian citizens accounted for 1.0 per cent.

Baku dominates the market. The capital registered 55.9 per cent of all hotel nights and 81.4 per cent of the nights spent by foreigners. Among the regions, Gusar had 5.2 per cent of all nights, Naftalan 5.1 per cent, Khachmaz 4.7 per cent and Gabala 3.9 per cent. Shusha accounted for 1.6 per cent.

Room use varied widely by location. Naftalan had the highest rate at 46.2 per cent, followed by Neftchala at 42.8 per cent and Shabran at 40.7 per cent. Baku's rate was 33.2 per cent, and Gabala's 21.8 per cent.

Fewer arrivals, a different mix

The hotel figures follow border data that Azstat published on 22 October. In its release on arrivals of foreigners and stateless persons, the committee said, citing the State Border Service, that Azerbaijan received 1,831.8 thousand foreign visitors in January to September, 6.0 per cent fewer than a year earlier.

The mix shifted. Arrivals from Gulf countries fell 32.0 per cent to 218.3 thousand, while arrivals from EU member countries rose 6.1 per cent to 94.2 thousand and arrivals from CIS countries rose 4.3 per cent to 699.0 thousand. The Russian Federation supplied 27.1 per cent of arrivals and Türkiye 19.4 per cent. Air transport carried 73.5 per cent of foreign arrivals.

In the hotel data, Saudi citizens accounted for 6.0 per cent of hotel nights in the nine months, the United Arab Emirates for 2.3 per cent and Kuwait for 1.3 per cent.

Where the money comes from

Room services provided 63.7 per cent of the 497.3 million manats in revenue, or about 316.8 million manats by CBJ's calculation. Catering brought in 25.9 per cent, treatment and health services 2.6 per cent and other services 7.8 per cent. Revenue that holds steady while nights fall points to higher spending per night, though Azstat does not publish average room rates in the release.

Neighbouring Georgia shows a different picture. The National Statistics Office of Georgia said in its inbound tourism statistics for the third quarter of 2026 that arrivals of international non-resident travellers rose 3.6 per cent to 3.1 million in July to September. CBJ reported on 25 October on Georgia's third-quarter travel revenue.

What it means for business

For hotel owners, lenders and investors in Azerbaijan, the nine-month data describe a market under pressure on volume. Occupancy fell by two percentage points, foreign nights fell 4.7 per cent and Gulf arrivals fell by almost a third. Revenue held up only slightly, at 0.6 per cent growth.

The growth in EU and CIS arrivals, and the large share of nights from Türkiye, Russia, Israel, India and China, point to demand outside the Gulf market. Regional resorts such as Naftalan and Shabran already run at higher room use than Baku, which accounts for 55.9 per cent of all nights.

The data also bear on the wider non-oil economy, which CBJ has followed in its coverage of Azerbaijan's non-oil exports. Full-year hotel and border figures will show whether the fourth quarter narrows the gap with 2025.