THIRD ARMENIAN TOURISM COMPETITIVENESS CONFERENCE HELD

Noyan Tapan
June 18, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian government has proclaimed
tourism a priority sector of the economy, and it is taking steps
to turn the country into an excellency center of this sphere. So
the government attaches importance to holding Armenian Tourism
Competitiveness Conferences, which open an opportunity to discuss once
again the approaches to the sector’s development. RA Deputy Minister
of Economy Vahe Danielian stated this in his speech of welcome at
the 3rd annual Armenian Tourism Competitiveness Conference on June
18. This year’s conference is entitled "Towards Crisis Solutions".

The conference is hosted by the USAID-funded Competitive Armenian
Private Sector (CAPS) Project. Its Director Hayley Alexander said that
the conference subject of targeted marketing in international market
is a key one. In his opinion, success was achieved in this direction,
particilarly in terms of cooperation with France. The CAPS director
also focused on the use of information technologies in tourism and the
coordinated work of the bodies responsible for the sector’s development
such as the RA Ministry of Economy, the Armenian Tourism Development
Agency (ATDA) and the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia
(NCFA) – other organizers of the event.

The USAID Armenia Office Head Ms. Jetinder Chima reminded that since
2005 an average annual growth of 20% has been recorded in Armenia’
tourism. However, in her estimation, the sector can grow at a higher
rate. She said that although Armenians are hospitable, foreign tourists
spend little money in Armenia because "those who sell goods do not
speak and smile". She expressed an opinion that Armenia’s tourism
can also be encouraged by the formation and sale of budgetary –
cheap travel packages.

The ATDA CEO Nina Hovnanian-Alexanian expressed satisfaction with
the fact that Armenia’s tourism is growing, whereas all over the
world tourism is suffering a decline due to the global financial and
economic crisis. By official statistics, the number of tourists to
Armenia rose by 2.8% in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the
same period of the previous year and made 86,569.