NUMBER OF TOURISTS TO ARMENIA GROWS BY 15.3%, THOSE FROM ARMENIA BY 13.5% IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2006

Noyan Tapan
Jun 12 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-March 2006, 46,023
tourists visited Armenia against 39,907 in the same period of last
year. According to the RA National Statistical Service, during the
indicated period, 42,675 people left Armenia to travel abroad, which
is by 13.5% more than in January-March 2005.

The number of those who left Armenia through tourist organizations in
the period under review made 1,079 against 723 persons in the same
months of last year. According to information provided by hotels,
33% of tourists to Armenia in January-March 2006 were those from CIS
countries. During this period, 28 hotels received foreign tourists
against 32 hotels in the same period of last year. In the first
three months of this year, Armenian hotels and hotel facilities
accomodated 6,394 tourists compared with 7,157 in the same period of
last year. During the period under review, tourists from CIS countries
accounted for 33% of the total number of tourists who visited Armenia
and were registered in the country’s hotels and hotel facilities
against 41.5% in the first quarter of 2005. Their absolute number
declined by 29%, including a decline from 34% to 23.7% in the number
of tourists from Russia (a 37.7% decline in the absolute number),
while the number of tourists from Georgia grew from 5.8% to 6.4%
(a 1.2% decline in their absolute number). Tourists from EU countries
accounted for 27.4% of the total number of tourists to Armenia in
January-March 2006 (against 20.7% in the same months of last year),
while their absolute number grew by 18.4%. Out of 6,394 tourists who
were registered at Armenian hotels and hotel facilities in the first
quarter of this year, 36.3% or 2,321 ones visited Armenia on business
(compared with 3,180 tourists in the same period of last year),
22.1% or 1,414 – for pleasure, and the remaining number – for other
purposes. Out of 1,079 tourists who left Armenia for foreign countries
through tourists companies, 10.4% or 112 persons left on business
(116), 11.5% or 124 – for pleasure (196), and the remaining ones –
for other purposes.