AIT RECTOR: ARMENIAN TOURISM SECTOR NEEDS QUALIFIED STAFF

Noyan Tapan
Feb 06 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Today Armenia has much potential
for receiving considerable revenues in the tourism sector. For this
purpose the state should conduct an encouraging policy and develop
this sector by forming the respective legislative field. Robert
Minasian, Rector of the Armenian Institute of Tourism (AIT) – the
Armenian branch of the Russian International Academy of Tourism,
expressed this opinion during a talk with NT correspondent.

According to him, tourism is one of the most profitable sectors of
economy: about 50 million people are currently engaged in the
tourism sector worldwide. R. Minasian noted that it is wrong to
conclude that this sector is developing only based on the fact
of the increased number of tourists. It is necessary to implement
infrastructural reforms: to build hotels accessible to travellers and
prepare qualified staff. The RA Law on Tourism, which was adopted
in 2003, has a provision on licensing the activity of a torist
guide. R. Minasian said that such licences should be granted by
some independent organization, like in developed countries and not
by the RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, as is done in
Armenia by the decison of the Armenian government. The AIT rector also
considers the current order of examination for getting a licence to
be incorrect as "it is impossible to examine the spoken proficiency
(which is important for a tourist guide) by means of a test." In his
opinion, it is also incorrect to grant a permanent licence.