TOURISM IS A PRIORITY

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
21 July 2006

It is a fact that the development of Shushi is connected with
development of tourism in the country, but it is also necessary to
provide conditions in the town to attract tourists and meet their
needs. The owners of the Shushi Hotel decided to open a hotel in the
town because there were no hotels in Shushi at all. V. Deirmenjian
says when he shared his idea with his friends from their political
party (Armenian Revolutionary Federation), they decided to set up
an organization for assistance to Karabakh, which was later called
Yerkir Tour. With government backing five years ago the organization
reconstructed and opened a hotel with 12 rooms, which have cold and
hot water. As everywhere else, in summer the hotel is crowded. The
director of the hotel Andranik Kelgatian says the rooms in the Shushi
Hotel are cheaper compared with the capital. A room costs 45 dollars
a night. The hotel has 15 workers, all of them living in Shushi, who
get a permanent salary. "The purpose of the organization is to help
Shushi and people living there rather than get profit from the hotel,"
he says. Andranik Kelgatian says this year there were less tourists to
Karabakh, the reason, according to him, was the World Cup Germany. The
design of the hotel is in ethnic Armenian style, including Armenian
carpets, works of local artists and sculptors. The director of the
hotel says every visitor feels the Armenian spirit here and after
going away they remember and miss Shushi. He says if the government,
the Armenian Diaspora and the people of Shushi give special care to
Shushi, the town will develop quickly. It is true that there is some
progress in Shushi, but there is still too much to do.

SRBUHI VANIAN.

21-07-2006