Ruslan Guliyev, President of the Association for Support to Health and Thermal Tourism, was elected as president of the Global Healthcare Travel Council (GHTC).
An election meeting of the international organization organized as a part of the exhibition "Hestourex" (Health, Sports and Alternative Tourism) in Antalya. 48 representatives from 22 countries participated in the voting.
The election of the president and six vice-presidents of the Council was announced at the meeting. Azerbaijan has taken over the presidency of the Council from the United Arab Emirates. At the same time, member of the Board of Directors of the Association for Support to Health and Thermal Tourism Jeyhun Ashurov was elected as Deputy Secretary General of the GHTC.
Addressing the meeting, Ruslan Guliyev highlighted Azerbaijan's health tourism potential and prospects, and provided an insight into the organization’s platform.
He said this election will contribute to the development of health tourism in Azerbaijan and will create opportunities for the country's tourism promotion: "Our active membership in this organization has been supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan. Over the past five years, great efforts have been made to promote the tourism potential of our country. We will try to continue our work in this direction during our presidency. Election of Azerbaijan to the Global Healthcare Travel Council at this great meetingattended by 48 representatives from 22 countries testifies to Azerbaijan`s constantly growing influence in the world. According to the outcomes of the meeting, the International Health Tourism Forum will be held in Azerbaijan in 2019. It will contribute to the expansion of tourism in the country".
60 countries, including Russia, Great Britain, Germany, Turkey and India, are members of the organization and Azerbaijan joined in 2014.