ARMENIAN TOUR OPERATORS PLAN PACKAGE TOURS OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH

/ARKA/
July 8, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, July 8. /ARKA/. Representatives of Armenian travel
agencies will leave for Nagorno-Karabakh next Monday to examine the
possibilities of arranging package tours for Armenian citizens. The
decision was made at RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s suggestion
at his meeting with representatives of Armenia’s tourist industry.

"We have to know own our potential to intensify flows of tourists,
determine the measures to be taken for Armenian citizens to prefer
spending their holidays in Karabakh," the Premier said.

He said that Armenia has received an offer from the Nagorno-Karabakh
authorities to make package tours for Armenian citizens possible.

The RA Premier reminded those present that the issue was discussed
with the NKR Premier.

Sargsyan believes Armenian tour operators should accept the NKR
authorities’ proposal and work out an action plan.

"We have to go to Nagorno-Karabakh ourselves and see the
conditions. You will be the first tourists," he said.

Premier Sargsyan added that during their trip to Nagorno-Karabakh the
representatives of Armenian travel agencies will see the conditions
at hotels and be informed of the prices.

Ruben Grigoryan, Director of the Rumea travel agency, said that
the prices offered by the NKR authorities are quite reasonable and
attractive to travel agencies.

"Surely, it is an20effective package. But we cannot say any more until
we get acquainted with the situation on the spot," Grigoryan said.

A ten-day package tour during the period from July 30 to September
20 will cost 70,000 AMD, 85,000 AMD and 100,000 AMD, with respective
hotel rooms reserved.

Some tour operators express their concern that the service will not be
in demand. However, the Armenian Premier said that a good advertising
campaign will impel many Armenian citizens to spend their holidays
in Nagorno-Karabakh.

This January-March, 86,600 tourists visited Armenia against 84,200
in the corresponding period last year.

According to the official statistical data, 31,900 inland tourists were
registered in Armenia this January-March – an annual increase of 1.2%.