Armenian leader, government officials discuss tourism development programme

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
9 Jun 05

[Presenter] Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today held a working
meeting with government members to discuss a programme on the
development of Tsakhkadzor [Armenian resort town].

According to preliminary calculations, 1.67bn drams [3.7m dollars] are
required to turn Tsakhkadzor into an international tourism centre. The
funds are planned to be allocated from the state budget, but it would
be good if businessmen participated in the programme.

The programme envisages several development directions – construction
of hotels, cultural and entertainment centres, as well as the
restoration of water supplies, gas systems and training of personnel
in the sphere of tourism.

The main goal of the programme is to decentralize the tourism
business, which will increase living standards for the residents of
the recreation zone.

[Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic Development Ara Petrosyan] With
the help of Tsakhkadzor, we will secure a 10-per-cent increase in
trips to Armenia in the next two years.

[Video showed the meeting]