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ARMENIA RECORDS FURTHER GROWTH IN TOURISM
Hovannes Shoghikian
Armenialiberty.org
Aug 24 2010
The number of foreign tourists visiting Armenia increased by more
than 10 percent to 230,000 in the first half of this year, according
to government data publicized on Tuesday.
The National Statistical Service (NSS) reported earlier that the
country received some 575,000 visitors in the course of last year. The
Armenian government expects the figure to surpass 620,000 in 2010.
The credibility of official tourism data has long been questioned by
private tour operators and other tourism experts. They say it takes
account of all individuals entering the country, including scores of
Armenians working abroad and spending holidays in their homeland.
In a recent interview with RFE/RL's Armenian service, Ara Vartanian,
the chairman of the Armenian Trade and Industry Chamber, said that
the number of foreigners staying in Armenian hotels is a far more
objective indicator of the tourist influx into the country. The NSS
data shows that there were only 65,000 such visitors in 2009.
Tourism experts acknowledge that that the number of tourists coming
to Armenia has been steadily rising. But many of them believe that
the sector's development is not fast enough.
"To say that there is strong growth [in the sector] is wrong," Robert
Minasian of the Armenian Union of Tour Operators told journalists
on Tuesday. "The number and quality of [tourism] services does not
change."
"The growing number of visitors which we see each year is not enough,"
agreed Pegor Papazian, director of the National Competitiveness
Foundation. "We need to achieve faster growth."
The Armenian authorities declared the development of the local tourism
industry a top economic priority a decade ago. Just how effective
government efforts to boost the sector have been is a matter of
contention. Travel agencies argue that the cost of air travel to
and accommodation in Armenia remains disproportionately high by
international standards.
"One of the main reasons why prices in Armenia are high is a lack
of supply," said Papazian. "So if the number of well-heeled foreign
tourists coming to Armenia drastically rises, both the number of
hotels and competition among them will increase."
From: A. Papazian
Hovannes Shoghikian
Armenialiberty.org
Aug 24 2010
The number of foreign tourists visiting Armenia increased by more
than 10 percent to 230,000 in the first half of this year, according
to government data publicized on Tuesday.
The National Statistical Service (NSS) reported earlier that the
country received some 575,000 visitors in the course of last year. The
Armenian government expects the figure to surpass 620,000 in 2010.
The credibility of official tourism data has long been questioned by
private tour operators and other tourism experts. They say it takes
account of all individuals entering the country, including scores of
Armenians working abroad and spending holidays in their homeland.
In a recent interview with RFE/RL's Armenian service, Ara Vartanian,
the chairman of the Armenian Trade and Industry Chamber, said that
the number of foreigners staying in Armenian hotels is a far more
objective indicator of the tourist influx into the country. The NSS
data shows that there were only 65,000 such visitors in 2009.
Tourism experts acknowledge that that the number of tourists coming
to Armenia has been steadily rising. But many of them believe that
the sector's development is not fast enough.
"To say that there is strong growth [in the sector] is wrong," Robert
Minasian of the Armenian Union of Tour Operators told journalists
on Tuesday. "The number and quality of [tourism] services does not
change."
"The growing number of visitors which we see each year is not enough,"
agreed Pegor Papazian, director of the National Competitiveness
Foundation. "We need to achieve faster growth."
The Armenian authorities declared the development of the local tourism
industry a top economic priority a decade ago. Just how effective
government efforts to boost the sector have been is a matter of
contention. Travel agencies argue that the cost of air travel to
and accommodation in Armenia remains disproportionately high by
international standards.
"One of the main reasons why prices in Armenia are high is a lack
of supply," said Papazian. "So if the number of well-heeled foreign
tourists coming to Armenia drastically rises, both the number of
hotels and competition among them will increase."
From: A. Papazian