Ecotourism potential and ways of its usage in the mountainous areas of Azerbaijan (the case of the Shaki-Zagatala economic-geographical region)

Tourism provides a basis for high income and quick return on investment. In a broader sense, tourism is a means affecting the formation of the state budget, the improvement of villages and cities, the preservation of historical and architectural monuments, and the development of small and medium enterprises. The mountainous areas of Azerbaijan are spectacular in terms of tourism, especially ecotourism. Because natural conditions and resources have a decisive impact on the formation and future development of ecotourism in these areas. This increases the strength of the socio-economic development of villages in mountainous areas and affects the importance of the relationship between tourism and the environment (ecotourism). However, in modern times, the level of use of natural tourism resources in Azerbaijan is inadequate. It is commonly known that the material and social needs of the rural population in mountainous areas are met mainly through local natural resources and opportunities. In modern times, the main occupation of the population in the mountainous areas of the world's leading countries is based on the use of ecotourism resources. Because of the conditions of structurally limited production, the difficulty of finding employment in mountainous areas aggravates the situation, combined with the activity of demographic processes (high natural increase) in places. To overcome these problems taking into account local opportunities such as climatic conditions, landscapes, forest resources, mineral and thermal water of medical importance, etc. is one of the priority directions of ecotourism development.