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Armenia to post 10% rise in tourists flow by end-2009
YEREVAN, March 11. /ARKA/. Armenia is expected to post a 10% rise in
tourists flow by end-2009, Mekhak Apresyan, head of the Tourism
Department, RA Ministry of Territorial Administration, said today at
the National Press Club.
According to the official, 588,000 people visited Armenia last year `
9.4% year-on-year rise.
`Tourists plan their getaway on the basis of leisure time and their
budget, as people all over the world have to cut their expenses due to
the financial crisis,' he said, adding the more attractive Armenia's
tourism policy would be, the more tourists would visit the country.
Around 60% of tourists visiting Armenia are Armenian businessmen.
`Even in those hard times, Diaspora Armenians came to their Motherland
and we hope their visits to Armenia will not reduce. However, trips
organized by tour operators will decrease this year,' Apresyan said.
Tour operators and travel agents plan around 20% of trips and holiday
packages in Armenia, the official added.
An average tourist pays about $1,400 (without the air ticket price) for
a holiday package offered by a tour operator, whereas an individual
trip costs some $800 (without the air ticket price).
According to Apresyan, Armenia will keep following its shrewd tourism
marketing policy, with the government and private sector discussing the
existing challenges i
n the sector. `The government-private sector
cooperation is particularly important for us to achieve our goals,' the
official stated.
On the initiative of the RA Government, the RA National Assembly is
discussing amendments to the Law on State Duties. The amendments
provide for a 21-day entry visa at 3,000 drams (compared to the current
120-day visa at 15,000 drams).
`This considerable reduces the price of a holiday package and makes
Armenia more attractive for tourists,' Apresyan concluded. ($1 ` 369.73
drams). `0--
YEREVAN, March 11. /ARKA/. Armenia is expected to post a 10% rise in
tourists flow by end-2009, Mekhak Apresyan, head of the Tourism
Department, RA Ministry of Territorial Administration, said today at
the National Press Club.
According to the official, 588,000 people visited Armenia last year `
9.4% year-on-year rise.
`Tourists plan their getaway on the basis of leisure time and their
budget, as people all over the world have to cut their expenses due to
the financial crisis,' he said, adding the more attractive Armenia's
tourism policy would be, the more tourists would visit the country.
Around 60% of tourists visiting Armenia are Armenian businessmen.
`Even in those hard times, Diaspora Armenians came to their Motherland
and we hope their visits to Armenia will not reduce. However, trips
organized by tour operators will decrease this year,' Apresyan said.
Tour operators and travel agents plan around 20% of trips and holiday
packages in Armenia, the official added.
An average tourist pays about $1,400 (without the air ticket price) for
a holiday package offered by a tour operator, whereas an individual
trip costs some $800 (without the air ticket price).
According to Apresyan, Armenia will keep following its shrewd tourism
marketing policy, with the government and private sector discussing the
existing challenges i
n the sector. `The government-private sector
cooperation is particularly important for us to achieve our goals,' the
official stated.
On the initiative of the RA Government, the RA National Assembly is
discussing amendments to the Law on State Duties. The amendments
provide for a 21-day entry visa at 3,000 drams (compared to the current
120-day visa at 15,000 drams).
`This considerable reduces the price of a holiday package and makes
Armenia more attractive for tourists,' Apresyan concluded. ($1 ` 369.73
drams). `0--