Transition to a Tourism-Based "Cultural Economy" (The Case of Mingachevir)

The city of Mingachevir is recognized as one of Azerbaijan`s most significant industrial centers and a major hub for large-scale energy production facilities. Established in 1948, the city today has a population exceeding one hundred thousand residents. Currently, Mingachevir hosts three modern power plants-two operating on natural gas and one hydroelectric facility. The relatively high educational level and cultural awareness of its population, together with the city’s modern and well-planned urban structure, provide a strong foundation for its future development. In addition, Mingachevir`s location along the banks of the Kura River and the opportunities created by the reservoir constructed on this river offer considerable potential for new economic activities. These factors create favorable conditions for the city to evolve beyond its traditional role as an industrial and energy center and to develop an identity that aligns with the contemporary concept of a modern city capable of competing with other urban areas of similar scale. Within this context, Mingachevir possesses significant potential for the development of a culture-based economy. The main objective of this study is to examine these opportunities and to propose a set of recommendations regarding the initiatives and policies necessary for transforming Mingachevir into a city shaped by the dynamics of the cultural economy. The research employs an inductive approach through the examination of official data related to Mingachevir. In addition, analogy and comparative analysis are used to provide a comprehensive overview of the city`s development prospects. For this purpose, official statistics, urban development plans and projects, investment initiatives, and relevant scholarly works produced by various researchers are carefully analyzed. The principal scientific contribution of this study lies in demonstrating that defining Mingachevir solely as an energy city is insufficient. On the contrary, the findings reveal that the city possesses considerable potential to evolve into one of the country’s leading centers of cultural economy. The results of the research indicate that Mingachevir has the capacity to transform from a mono-industrial city into a multifunctional urban center characterized by a diversified cultural economy. This transformation is expected to develop along three key directions: water and recreation tourism, industrial heritage and energy tourism, and an innovation-driven economy supported by university-based development.