Physical-chemical and treatment peculiarities of Azerbaijan mineral waters and their use in health tourism

In modern times, the efficient use of mineral waters is evaluated as a source bringing income for states in several world countries. This is because the efficient use of the mineral waters may bring an influx of tourists, which in turn lead to at least a partial reduction of the unemployment challenges and the expansion of the activities of catering establishments. Undoubtedly, mineral water contains dissolved salts, microelements, as well as some biologically active components, which have a therapeutic effect on the human body. These waters can be applied for drinking and for treatment, taking baths, bathing in the pools, inhalation and rinsing (in diseases of the upper respiratory tract), and washing the intestines (in diseases of the digestive system and metabolic disorders), as well as in gynecological diseases. It can be noted that when the amount of the active substances in mineral water is relatively lower, they are used as drinking water whereas when the amount of these substances is higher, they are used in the medical treatment of various diseases. There are also medical drinking waters, which should be used only for a certain period of time according to the doctor’s instruction and with a prescription. Regardless of having rich mineral water resources in Azerbaijan, only a small part of them is used. At the present moment, in order to develop medical tourism in Azerbaijan, the state has done certain work, sanatoriums, rest houses, boarding houses, balneological-treatment centers, resort polyclinics, rehabilitation centers and others are restored or new ones are built. However, these works are not carried out in a comprehensive manner and are fragmented. In this respect, in the presented article, the therapeutic-health importance of mineral waters, their physical, chemical and other properties, temperature indicators, classification, and their balneological-therapeutic properties were provided, and a map of mineral water re- sources of Azerbaijan is drawn up. In addition to these, the article provides extensive information about mineral waters such as Galaalti, Badamli, Sirab, Daridagh, Slavyanka, Istisu, Surakhani, Bilgah, Gotursu, Khaltan and others, which are major therapeutic and health importance in Azerbaijan, and it was elucidated that they can continuously lead to health tourism and socio-economic development by determining their potential opportunities.