SECOND FORUM ON ARMENIAN TOURISM COMPETITIVENESS HELD
YEREVAN, MAY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The second forum on competitiveness of the
Armenian tourism "New Challenges and Markets" was held in Yerevan on
May 6 with the participation of representatives of state and private
sectors, international organizations, more than 120 educational
institutions. The event was organized by the RA ministry of economy,
the USAID-financed Competitive Armenian Private Sector (CAPS) Project,
and the Armenian Tourism Development Agency (ATDA).
Speeches of welcome were made by the CAPS Director Hayley Alexander and
the the USAID’s Economic Growth Office Director Rolf Anderson.
Then the keynote speaker of the forum’s first sitting, RA minister of
economy Nerses Yeritsian gave a report "Development of State Strategy
and Action Plan of Tourism". By the tourism development concept, which
was approved by the RA government in February 2008, it is envisaged in
case of a 9% growth in the number of travels to Armenia, their number
will make 3 million in 2030 – against 381 thousand travels in 2006,
while in case of 11% annual growth in revenues from these travels,
their amount will make 3 billion dollars against 299 million dollars in
2006.
The head of the ministry’s tourism department Mekhak Apresian spoke
about the current state of Armenia’s tourism sector, while the ATDA
director for marketing Syuzanna Azoyan addressed the subject "Promotion
of Armenia in International Market in 2007-2008". In particular, in
2007 an electronic poster on Armenia was put on EuroNews website and an
advertisement page about Armenia was included in the CNN Traveller
monthly. In February 2008, an article was published in addition to this
advertisement page. Besides, in 2008 Armenia was on the list of the
best tourism places at the famous tourism website Lonely Planet. In
2007, the ATDA organized Armenia’s participation in 9 international
tourism exhibitions in the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Germany, Georgia,
Japan, France and the UK.
Various subjects related to the current state and development prospects
of Armenia’s tourism were presented and discussed at the forum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
