Delegates at this week’s Global Tourism Forum (GTF) in Brussels have been treated to a taste of the landscapes and architectural heritage of Nakhchivan, thanks to a photo exhibition partnered by Travel Tomorrow.
An autonomous province of Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan is a landlocked region whose eponymous capital has a history going back to at least 1500 BCE. The semi-desert terrain is bordered by the Zangezur Mountains near Armenia and the Aras River on its frontier with Iran.
Nakhchivan revealed through the lenses of Travel Tomorrow over 20-21 October 2025, allowed GTF delegates and speakers to discover the province’s stark beauty and multicultural influences through the compelling photography of Travel Tomorrow’s photojournalist, Aris Setya.
Nature’s gifts were on display from the tranquillity of the Göygöl Lake in the Ordubad Valley, to the crystalline highland streams of Batabat as they weave through volcanic rock forms. Taking viewers below ground, Setya conveys the healing mineral-rich air of the Duzdag Salt Cave, while rising proudly above the plains, Llandagh Mountain stands as a symbol of Nakhchivan’s strength and resilience, the eye led by a winding road.
Cultural heritage captured by Setya includes Alinja Castle, a once-impenetrable seventh-century medieval fortress perched on the rocky crags above the Aras Valley, as well as the mysteriously neat forms of Noah’s Tomb, a sacred site believed to be the resting place of the biblical figure. Meanwhile, the interior of the Heydar Mosque is stunning with golden chandeliers illuminating the structure’s exquisite geometry.
Modernity is not neglected here either. Nakhchivan’s city centre, enchantingly lit by night, is featured too, as is the interior of the State History Museum, complete with its painted sky dome.
The show was supported by the Azerbaijan Tourist Board and the Embassy to the Kingdom of Belgium. As Azerbaijan pushes to attract international arrivals and bets on tourism as a driver of prosperity, further events to put the country on the map are taking place elsewhere in Europe this autumn.
Since 13 October 2025, a B2B roadshow initiative taking place in Barcelona, Budapest, Frankfurt, Prague, Vienna, and Zurich has been bringing together 20 trade representatives from Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. National carriers such as Azerbaijan Airlines and Uzbekistan Airways, alongside hotel chains and inbound destination management organisations (DMOs), are participating in these European roadshows. As Travel Tomorrow reported earlier this year, the Silk Road Highlights Tour links Baku, Shamakhi, and Sheki in Azerbaijan with Khiva, Bukhara, and Samarkand in Uzbekistan, delivering an enriching experience for adventure seekers to explore the region’s vibrant heritage.
