“TOURISM AND REST ARMITT-2004” EXHIBITION HELD IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS: Armenian EXPO.com has initiated an
exhibition “Tourism and Rest ARMITT-2004” which is held at the Cinema
Housein Yerevan on April 7-10. The exhibition aims to unveil the
potentials of Armenian tourism markets, emphasize the role of tourism
in the economic development of the country and contribute to a growing
interest to Armenia thus fostering investment and new employment
places.

Armenian deputy minister of trade and economic development Ara
Petrosian noted that these are the first steps and this exhibition is
going to becomea tradition increasing in geography and supported by
the Armenian government. “Tourism is at an irreversible and dynamic
stage of its development in Armenia,” the deputy minister noted. The
statistics indicate that in the coming yearsit will keep on developing
as dynamically, he added. Some 30 per cent rise is registered in this
field as compared to the data of 2002. The deputy minister expects
similar growth in the coming year. Much should be done in promotion
activities and assistance programs while this event serves
particularly to those aims, the deputy minister said.

He also stressed the role of the private sector and stated that “it
is capable to record successes and attract tourists to Armenia in the
conditions of serious competition in the international market.”
A. Petrosian also expressed his gratitude to the diplomatic agencies
present at the meeting stressing that tourism has a great potential in
Armenia.

The deputy tourism minister of Lebanon Antoine Issa El Quirin
congratulated all the participants. He expressed his happiness for
this inaugural event and added that the historical backgrounds of both
Armenia and Lebanon allowto say that such events and tourism will
become a tradition.

Moscow office head of Armenian EXPO.com Hovhannes Khachatrian who
also supervises the current exhibition said that more than two dozens
Armenian and one Lebanese company participate in the event. For the
coming year, there are five applications received from Cyprus. An
international conference titled “Domestic Tourism: Problems and
Challenges,” another round table are also expected. At the end of the
event, the companies named as the best in 11 categories will receive
honor certificates.

The exhibition was officially supported by Armenian foreign
ministry, ministry of trade and economic development and Interregional
Internet-Commercial Net.