Scheme for implementing tourism development concept to be worked out in
Armenia soon

YEREVAN, May 7. /ARKA/. The program of measures to be taken for
implementation of tourism development concept is to be worked out in
Armenia soon, Armenian Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan said Tuesday
at the second forum on tourism.

Currently the ministry is expecting proposals from the private sector
to establish main directions and objectives of the program, the
Minister said. He stressed that the strategy shows the political will
of the government, but serious efforts of all involved businessmen are
required to implement the strategy.

On February 13 2008 Armenian Government adopted tourism development
concept for up to the year 2030. The concept provides for development
of target tourism markets, formation of tourist clusters for certain
cultural and historic sights of Armenia, creation of industrial
business-centers outside Yerevan.

According to the ministry, 450,000 tourists will visit Armenia by the
end of the year, which will constitute 20% of the growth in the sector.

According to the statistics, average annual growth of tourist visits
has been 25% since 2001.

318,000 and 381,000 tourists visited Armenia in 2005 and 2006
respectively. During 5-7 years Armenia intends to bring the number of
tourist visits up to 1mln per year. `0–