DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM TO HELP DEVELOP TOURISM IN ARMENIA

ARKA
Feb 24, 2009

TSAKHKADZOR, February 24. /ARKA/. Development of the regional transport
system will facilitate development of tourism in Armenia, President
of Association of Armenian Freight Forwarders Makar Arakelyan said.

On-land transport communication may facilitate inflow of tourists to
the country as the air route is very expensive, Arakelyan said at his
interview to ARKA Agency during the sixth "Bridge-2009" international
economic forum Saturday. High cost of air transportation reduces
demand on tourism market of Armenia, he said.

Travelers first of all calculate the fare, then the hotel price and
other services, Arakelyan said. If fare is high, tourists try to find
alternate countries on the market.

In responding the question what should be done to turn Armenia into a
transit country Arakelyan said that roads not operated for political
reasons should be restored and regional problems, particularly those
with Azerbaijan and Turkey, should be solved.

Today Armenia has the Karabakh issue unsolved and if a mutually
advantageous solution is found to the problem, Armenia may become a
transit country, he said. Then, Armenia will get to Russia and Europe
through Azerbaijan and it will become a transit country for Georgia,
Turkey, Russia and Azerbaijan, Arakelyan said.