OVER HALF MILLION TOURISTS VISIT ARMENIA IN 2007
ARKA News Agency
Feb 5 2008
Armenia
YEREVAN, February 5. /ARKA/. 510,000 tourists visited Armenia in 2007,
which is 33.8% more than in 2006, the Chief of Tourism Department of
Armenia’s Ministry of Trade and Economic Development Mekhak Apresian
reported.
These indicators are achieved owning to correct government policy
pursued in the sphere of tourism, he said adding that average annual
growth in tourism has been 25% since 2001.
Apresian also pointed out that extensive work has been done to provide
compliance of Armenia’s hotels with the international standards.
Against several hotels complying with international standards in 2000,
today we have 70 such hotels in Armenia providing about 10,000 beds,
Apresian said adding that the number of hotels in Yerevan only is 35.
Speaking about the country’s achievements in the recent years,
Apresian stressed the importance of the trailers about Armenia that
are broadcast on international CNN and BBC television channels.
Apresian also said that the government focuses on development of
human resources in 2008 – on training professionals in the tourism
sphere. "Moreover, we intend to adopt a new concept in 2008 as we
understand – tourism is a sphere that is developing dynamically,"
he said.
The Armenian authorities intend to bring the number of tourist visits
up to 1mln yearly. According to some surveys a foreign tourist spends
about $1,300-1,400 in average (without airfare).