NUMBER OF TOURISTS VISITNG ARMENIA EXPECTED TO GROW

ARMENPRESS
Aug 21, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS: "Armenia: Noah’s Country" 52-minute
documentary film will be presented today in Yerevan "Moskva" cinema
shot by authoritative Spanish "Trans-Globe" and "Buzz Business"
companies.

Deputy Economy Minister Ara Petrosyan said that negotiations with
the companies started from 2008 and they guaranteed ensuring the
broadcasting of the film in each continent at least twice.

"The program fully corresponds and is harmonious to the policy
conducted today by our government. Its goal is to present Armenia
in the global market more aggressively and dynamically," the deputy
minister said.

He said today Armenia is ready to receive tourists more than ever and
present rating formation application to the international market. In
the first half of 2008 and in the same period of the running year
the same number of tourists has been registered – 207,700.

"In the end of the 2009 we may register a hopeful and good result as
we will have increase of the number of tourists at least by 5 and at
most by 10%," Petrosyan said.

Vice President of "Buzz Business" company Judith Laskomb noted that
the film will increase the authority of Armenia in the tourism sphere
in the world and present the country with its cultural and tourism
attractions.

She said Armenia is a country which even through film may create
a wonderful picture among the audience by its historic-cultural
heritage and modern entertainment centers. "In my homeland – in
England – Armenia is associated with 1915 Armenian Genocide and 1988
earthquake. People in England think that there are no contemporary
technologies in Armenia, they even ask whether there is a cash machine
in Armenia or not," Laskomb said. She expressed assurance that the
film will give final answers to all the questions.

Head of the Tourism and Territorial Economic Development of the
Armenian Economy Ministry Mekhak Apresyan said that 225,000 euros
have been spent on the film.

The film will be shown in 200 countries by Spanish "TVE" Channel having
450 million audience, "Scandinavia" TV Channel being broadcasted in
all the Scandinavian countries. Currently negotiations are being held
with "Discovery" and "RAI" TV channels.