ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT INITIATES THIS YEAR A NUMBER OF MEASURES ON PROMOTION OF INBOUND TOURISM

Noyan Tapan
July 22, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsan
on July 21 visited Aspar Wild Tour organization. According to him,
the activities of this tourism organization are in keeping with the
government programs and help develop tourism in the country. The prime
minister said that this year the government has initiated a number of
measures to promote inbound tourism and assist tour operators with the
enhancement of their capacities so that they will be able to provide
tourist services both to foreigners and Armenian citizens who intend
to visit various places in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

During his visit, T. Sargsyan conducted a consultation with
representatives of several Armenian tourist companies. After
the consultation held a few days ago, the tourist companies’
representatives went to Nagorno Karabakh to familiarize themselves
with the prospects of tourism development on the spot.

The tour operators presented a new favorable tourism package: a 6-day
trip from Armenia to Nagorno Karabakh for 90 thousand drams. They
also envisage submitting soon an affordable short-term package.

T. Sargsyan underlined that the tourism organizations should examine
statistical data to know what countries their potential customers are
from, which will help them determine the directions for developing
their activity.

According to him, studies show that the global tourism has suffered
a decline, whereas in Armenia the number of tourists grew by 2.7%
in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period of
2008. The number of tourists to Armenia is expected to exceed 600
thousand in 2009 – against about 500 thousand last year.

The prime minister said that the prices of tourist packages in Armenia
are 3-4 times as much as the expenses on organizing holidays on one’s
own, whereas the situation is opposite in European countries. He added
that according to studies, the Japanese tourists spend the most money
in Armenia – nearly 1,400 dollars a day, while Georgians and Iranians
spend the least amount of 30-40 dollars daily.

Only 20% of tourists visit Armenia for the first time. Nevertheless,
about 90% of Armenians living abroad have never been to Armenia. "If
you master the tourism organization skills and be able to offer
affordable tourist packages, you will succeed in increasing the number
of those purchasing these packages, " T. Sargsyan pointed out.

The tour operators informed the prime minister about the current
problems of the tourism sector. In particular, public lavatories and
refuse bins are absent on republican roads, and the areas around many
churches of historical significance are in poor condition. T. Sargsyan
said the government will do its best to help with solution of the
indicated probelms.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress