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 “No one knows where Azerbaijan is. In fact, plenty of people don't even know what Azerbaijan is. Is it a city? A state? A sub-continental cricketer?” traveler and writer from Australia, Ben Groundwater, writes for Traveller.com.

Groundwater found himself in Baku during the European Games on a flight from Qatar's capital of Doha. “’Where?’ If you plan to visit Azerbaijan, prepare to answer that question. A lot,” the author writes and adds that the follow-up question will be "Why?"
The author wonders why one would want to go to Azerbaijan, a former Soviet state, an oil-rich and tourist-poor country, a place no one really knows anything about. The traveler did not even know why he came to that country, before the other journalists told him that the invitation came from one particular hotel board member who has a passion for spreading the word on Azerbaijan. People connected with oil business go to Azerbaijan most of all, Groundwater points.

The air in Baku is heavily polluted. There is also not much to see save for endless rows of dreary post-communist apartment blocks and a huge graveyard. Azerbaijan has relaxed its tight entry requirements, constructed buildings, shops and hosted events to attract tourists. However, the natural resource boom may not have trickled down to all parts of society, the traveler stresses.
Summing up, Groundwater writes that Baku center is certainly beautiful, however, “it doesn't provide many clues as to what I'm doing here.”

On 12-28 June, Baku hosted the first European Games under the auspices of the European Olympic Committee. The event became a serious headache for the locals because of numerous bans and property demolitions. The preparatory works for the Games were accompanied by crackdowns and brutal repressions against dissent. The international media reported about the Azerbaijan authorities hiring false “tourists” to promote the country.

Related:
The Guardian: Demonstration of ‘prosperity’ of Azerbaijan before tourists and guests of European Games cost 16 people's lives 
Media reports: Azerbaijani authorities even fake tourists to promote European Games