HULIQ (press release), NC
June 20 2008
Armenia Expects Over Half a Million Tourists in 2008
The head of Tourism Department of Armenia in the Economy Ministry told
reporters during a press conference on Wednesday that his department
is expecting about 600,000 foreign tourists to visit Armenia this
year.
Tourism Head Mekhak Apresian explained to reporters that the
Government has approved a new policy on tourism development and his
department has begun developing a plan of action to implement it.
He said the department will welcome and appreciate all suggestions and
proposals regarding the policy. The first stage of the Government’s
tourism plan, he explained, will cover the period from 2008 to 2012,
and will work to develop Armenia as a national recreational center.
According to Apresian, the plan anticpates that some 3 million foreign
tourists will visit Armenia in 2010. About 510,000 tourists visited
Armenia last year, he explained. The combined total of Armenia’s
hotels and inns can only accommodate 10,000 people at a given time.
Because the number of tourists visiting Armenia is set to grow this
year, the country’s tourism sector must work to raise the quality of
services it provides to foreigners.
The Armenian government has also earmarked $300,000 for advertising to
run on CNN from May to October and 15,000 euros for advertising on the
EuroNews TV channel. He said the government has also allocated funds
for the filming of a documentary about Armenia that will be screened
by major foreign TV stations.