ARMENIA’S ‘LEGENDARY HOSPITALITY’: WILL ARMENIA BECOME A TOURISM CENTRE?
Tert
Nov 9 2009
Armenia
Head of Tourism Department at the Ministry of Economy Mekhak Apresyan
agrees with Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s idea that it is possible
to make Armenia a tourism centre, Apresyan stated during a press
conference today.
He even knows what aspects of the country and its people will make it
possible to make it a centre for tourism. The rich historical-cultural
heritage, the Armenian people’s traditions, the legendary hospitality,
the first state to adopt Christianity, the connection with Noy legend
are the characteristics which, according to Apresyan, will allow
Armenia to become a tourism centre.
According to Apresyan, the global economic slowdown hasn’t affected
tourism in Armenia; in fact, there has been a notable increase. From
January to September of the current year, 422,807 tourists visited
Armenia, compared to 399,691 last year. That is, there was an increase
of 5.8% this year. There is also a 0.12% rise in internal tourism.
In response to the surprise by some as to how Armenia can register an
increase during a global crisis when there is a decline in the rest
of the world, Apresyan stated that these numbers can be considered
not an increase, but maintenance.
It is interesting to note that Armenia’s leaders, wishing to make
Armenia a tourism centre, consider everything possible to make the
sector more attractive but not to make it more affordable. That is,
however much we speak about making Armenia a tourism centre, all of us
know that the tourism prices in Jermuk and Tsakhkadzor are affordable
only for a wealthy few.
Tert.am asked Apresyan what the state has done in order to mitigate
the price policy of tourism centres. As always, this time, too,
the department head first noted that the country cannot interfere
with the private sector’s pricing policy and then acknowledged that
in case of changes in pricing policy, it is also possible to attract
internal tourists.
Apresyan said what the state has to do in this matter is to
promote an increase in demand and to influence the pricing policy
indirectly. To this end, they met various companies in the tourism
sector and discussed the possibility of offering more affordable and
competitive packages.