MARIA ATAYAN: ARMENIA MAY DECLARE ITSELF A COUNTRY ACCESSIBLE FOR TOURISM

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
15.12.2009 17:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian National Tourism Office (Armenian NTO) in
Russia and CIS Countries is a new NGO opened in Moscow this November.

In conjunction with Fresh Advice communication agency, it launches
Armenian tourism development campaign in Russia.

The organization has a many optimistic plans, and the zero-based
budget is no obstacle to the realization of its leading ideas, NTO
Armenia Director Maria Atayan told a news conference in Yerevan.

According to her, Armenia has many competitors among CIS countries
(Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan etc.) but the right PR campaign
may enable the country to provide the clue to the country’s success in
the sphere. As competitive advantages, Atayan pointed out to Armenia’s
climate conditions and rich ancient culture. "We will declare ourselves
as a country with a middle-class oriented tourism," she said.

In the initial period of its activity, NTO Armenia will offer the
tariffs available at present. After attaining certain results,
it will start negotiations with Government for reducing prices,
particularly taxes on tickets.

"NTO Armenia is launched now that tourists have got tired of Europe and
feel like communicating with people they share common history with,"
the organization’s director said.

At that, she noted that the first stage of NTO Armenia’s PR campaign
(December 15-18) envisages Russian media representatives’ press-tour to
Armenia. The tour program includes visit to Tsakhadzor, Echmiadzin,
Yenukavan and other tourism zones situated not far from Yerevan,
as well as a horse race to the mountains.