Upon invitation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, HBSCA co-hosted a delegation from Houston during a a one week visit to Azerbaijan from May 15 until May 22.

The group of 10 representatives of Houston's cultural, educational, media and travel business community traveled to Baku and visited many places of interest in the city, such as the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Martyr's Alley, the Azerbaijan Diplomatic School, the Shirvanshahs Palace complex and the Old City.

The tour also included cultural evening programs and visits to historical sites outside the city, including the ancient rock carvings of Gobustan, the Atashgah Zoroastrian Fire temple, Lahic on the Southern slopes of the Caucasus and the Khan's Palace and oldest Albanian Orthodox Church in the Caucasus near the village of Shekhi.

Click here for a slideshow presentation of the trip.

Besides sightseeing, cultural programs and some press interviews, the guests had an opportunity to meet with government officials and representatives of Azerbaijan's cultural and education communities and build relationships. It is anticipated that the outcome of the trip will not only result in the general promotion of Azerbaijan as a cultural travel destination through positive feedback of the delegates within their communities, but also lead to the development of additional exchange programs and further strengthening of the nearly 35 year old relationship between the two world oil capitals.