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Tatev aerial tramway, breakthrough in area tourism, set for October opening
by Paul Chaderjian
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2010-07-16-tatev-aerial-tramway-breakthrough-in-area-tourism-set-for-october-opening
Published: Friday July 16, 2010
View of Tatev monastery. Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia
Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia
Tatev, Armenia - Hundreds of visionaries, philanthropists, government
and church officials, and community leaders will gather at the ancient
Tatev Monastery in southern Armenia on Saturday, October 16, 2010, for
the launch of the innovative and forward-thinking Tatev Revival
Project.
"Tatev is one of our historic landmarks. It's a crown jewel in our
cultural heritage and was for centuries a major focal point and
religious center for our people. It was also where we studied
theology, humanities, the sciences, and created art and literature,"
said Zarmine Zeitountsian, Fundraising Coordinator of the Tatev
Revival Project. "Tatev is a 9th century landmark that, due to natural
causes and centuries of neglect, is now in serious need of
conservation and restoration."
The Tatev monastic complex underwent a flawed and unfinished
renovation attempt in the 1980s under Soviet rule. Rain and snow
continue to threaten the stability of the ancient structures and seep
through to interiors causing more damage.
"There's still a massive construction crane from the renovation
attempt, and it's been standing in the middle of the courtyard for the
last 30 years," said Zeitountsian. "The work that was attempted in the
80s is historically inaccurate and unbefitting. It is important not
only to conserve the structures of the Monastery, protecting them from
deterioration, but also to undo some of the inappropriate
interventions such as the hotel lobby-like marble floors in the holy
St. Paul and Peter Church, and to restore some collapsed components
such as the ancient monk cells."
Spearheading the massive $50-million Tatev Revival Project on behalf
of a group of stakeholders, including the Armenian Government and
Church, benefactors and the Armenian people is the National
Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia.
This public-private partnership tackles breakthrough, strategic
projects that act as catalysts for long-term development.
Competitiveness Foundation projects trigger both government and
private investments in sectors like tourism, education, and
healthcare. Economists have identified these sectors as ones that will
make Armenia globally competitive.
"Our challenge was not just to renovate the monastery, but to ensure
that it will live, become active and self-sustaining," said
Competitiveness Foundation CEO, Pegor Papazian. "Tatev is part of our
Southern Armenia Tourism Corridor, where we have designed and are
developing projects that are designed to create excitement and inspire
confidence, so that our intervention will trigger further development.
We are zoning and creating a master plan for the region, so that we
can direct development and mobilize investments while protecting
nature and the rural environment."
The far-sighted Tatev Revival Project will launch in October with the
grand opening of the $13 million aerial tramway. Already under
construction since last fall, this 5.7-kilometer (3.5-mile) aerial
tramway - the world's longest teleferic - will allow visitors to
bypass a 90-minute drive in and out of the rocky Vorotan River Gorge
to reach the monastery. It will link Armenia's main regional highway
to the village of Tatev.
"We have a very diverse group of donors, including quite a few
non-Armenians and people of different faiths - Christian, Jewish and
Muslim. As a result of their contributions, the 9th century Tatev
complex may be reached by taking a 10-minute ride," said Zeitountsian.
"This tramway will take visitors over picturesque green hills, steep
cliffs, and the rushing white waters of the Vorotan River. In itself,
it will be an impressive tourist attraction."
The Ruben and Veronica Vardanian and Friends Foundation is the main
benefactor of the Halidzor-Tatev tramway construction. Several
sponsors have also committed to covering the maintenance and operating
costs of the Swiss-built ropeway. It will operate year-round, to allow
tourists from around the globe to experience Tatev during all seasons,
even during snow-covered winters.
"With our investors committed to the project, we also have Armenia's
taxpayers and government stepping up to reconstruct and repave the
roads leading to Halidzor and Tatev and to strengthen the area's
infrastructure," said Zara Amatuni, Competitiveness Foundation
Outreach Manager. "There are other investors looking into developing
community-based tourism activities, hotels, bed and breakfasts, and
eateries."
Among the many innovative breakthrough development programs in the
Tatev Revival Project are the renewal of Tatev's monastic traditions,
an arts and crafts revival, and culinary tourism. These sophisticated,
multi-faceted projects are ambitious and reflect a long-term
perspective.
"People value food, especially authentic ethnic food, and we want to
make the region's cuisine more accessible. We want to revive old and
forgotten recipes, use local ingredients to create new dishes, and
offer tourists and global markets a new take on Armenian cuisine,"
said Papazian. "The same ideology will be applied to arts and craft
revival, which will help make Armenia more competitive as a tourism
destination. Projects such as these will result in economic growth
that will naturally lead to more jobs, reduced migration, and a
sustainable economy."
The monastic revival component of the Tatev Revival Project will bring
back to life a time when Tatev was home to more than 500 monks and a
thriving university that excelled in scientific, literary, and
religious studies. In its heyday, Tatev was at the leading edge of
education. Today, plans are in the works to make the monastery
attractive for students, artists, academics and even pilgrims. The
monastery has the potential to become a center for academic
conferences, research projects, workshops, summer camps, science
fairs, musical concerts, lectures, retreats, and sabbaticals.
"We are attracting financing and plugging Armenia into global networks
and markets," said Papazian. "We want people to choose Armenia over
another country they might be considering next time they plan their
vacation. We want to be competitive across sectors, and especially in
tourism, healthcare, and education which have great unrealized
potential."
Information about the Competitiveness Foundation's mandate and other
projects is available online at http://www.cf.am/. The Tatev Revival
Project is described fully on its own site at http://www.tatev.am/.
From: A. Papazian
by Paul Chaderjian
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2010-07-16-tatev-aerial-tramway-breakthrough-in-area-tourism-set-for-october-opening
Published: Friday July 16, 2010
View of Tatev monastery. Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia
Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia
Tatev, Armenia - Hundreds of visionaries, philanthropists, government
and church officials, and community leaders will gather at the ancient
Tatev Monastery in southern Armenia on Saturday, October 16, 2010, for
the launch of the innovative and forward-thinking Tatev Revival
Project.
"Tatev is one of our historic landmarks. It's a crown jewel in our
cultural heritage and was for centuries a major focal point and
religious center for our people. It was also where we studied
theology, humanities, the sciences, and created art and literature,"
said Zarmine Zeitountsian, Fundraising Coordinator of the Tatev
Revival Project. "Tatev is a 9th century landmark that, due to natural
causes and centuries of neglect, is now in serious need of
conservation and restoration."
The Tatev monastic complex underwent a flawed and unfinished
renovation attempt in the 1980s under Soviet rule. Rain and snow
continue to threaten the stability of the ancient structures and seep
through to interiors causing more damage.
"There's still a massive construction crane from the renovation
attempt, and it's been standing in the middle of the courtyard for the
last 30 years," said Zeitountsian. "The work that was attempted in the
80s is historically inaccurate and unbefitting. It is important not
only to conserve the structures of the Monastery, protecting them from
deterioration, but also to undo some of the inappropriate
interventions such as the hotel lobby-like marble floors in the holy
St. Paul and Peter Church, and to restore some collapsed components
such as the ancient monk cells."
Spearheading the massive $50-million Tatev Revival Project on behalf
of a group of stakeholders, including the Armenian Government and
Church, benefactors and the Armenian people is the National
Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia.
This public-private partnership tackles breakthrough, strategic
projects that act as catalysts for long-term development.
Competitiveness Foundation projects trigger both government and
private investments in sectors like tourism, education, and
healthcare. Economists have identified these sectors as ones that will
make Armenia globally competitive.
"Our challenge was not just to renovate the monastery, but to ensure
that it will live, become active and self-sustaining," said
Competitiveness Foundation CEO, Pegor Papazian. "Tatev is part of our
Southern Armenia Tourism Corridor, where we have designed and are
developing projects that are designed to create excitement and inspire
confidence, so that our intervention will trigger further development.
We are zoning and creating a master plan for the region, so that we
can direct development and mobilize investments while protecting
nature and the rural environment."
The far-sighted Tatev Revival Project will launch in October with the
grand opening of the $13 million aerial tramway. Already under
construction since last fall, this 5.7-kilometer (3.5-mile) aerial
tramway - the world's longest teleferic - will allow visitors to
bypass a 90-minute drive in and out of the rocky Vorotan River Gorge
to reach the monastery. It will link Armenia's main regional highway
to the village of Tatev.
"We have a very diverse group of donors, including quite a few
non-Armenians and people of different faiths - Christian, Jewish and
Muslim. As a result of their contributions, the 9th century Tatev
complex may be reached by taking a 10-minute ride," said Zeitountsian.
"This tramway will take visitors over picturesque green hills, steep
cliffs, and the rushing white waters of the Vorotan River. In itself,
it will be an impressive tourist attraction."
The Ruben and Veronica Vardanian and Friends Foundation is the main
benefactor of the Halidzor-Tatev tramway construction. Several
sponsors have also committed to covering the maintenance and operating
costs of the Swiss-built ropeway. It will operate year-round, to allow
tourists from around the globe to experience Tatev during all seasons,
even during snow-covered winters.
"With our investors committed to the project, we also have Armenia's
taxpayers and government stepping up to reconstruct and repave the
roads leading to Halidzor and Tatev and to strengthen the area's
infrastructure," said Zara Amatuni, Competitiveness Foundation
Outreach Manager. "There are other investors looking into developing
community-based tourism activities, hotels, bed and breakfasts, and
eateries."
Among the many innovative breakthrough development programs in the
Tatev Revival Project are the renewal of Tatev's monastic traditions,
an arts and crafts revival, and culinary tourism. These sophisticated,
multi-faceted projects are ambitious and reflect a long-term
perspective.
"People value food, especially authentic ethnic food, and we want to
make the region's cuisine more accessible. We want to revive old and
forgotten recipes, use local ingredients to create new dishes, and
offer tourists and global markets a new take on Armenian cuisine,"
said Papazian. "The same ideology will be applied to arts and craft
revival, which will help make Armenia more competitive as a tourism
destination. Projects such as these will result in economic growth
that will naturally lead to more jobs, reduced migration, and a
sustainable economy."
The monastic revival component of the Tatev Revival Project will bring
back to life a time when Tatev was home to more than 500 monks and a
thriving university that excelled in scientific, literary, and
religious studies. In its heyday, Tatev was at the leading edge of
education. Today, plans are in the works to make the monastery
attractive for students, artists, academics and even pilgrims. The
monastery has the potential to become a center for academic
conferences, research projects, workshops, summer camps, science
fairs, musical concerts, lectures, retreats, and sabbaticals.
"We are attracting financing and plugging Armenia into global networks
and markets," said Papazian. "We want people to choose Armenia over
another country they might be considering next time they plan their
vacation. We want to be competitive across sectors, and especially in
tourism, healthcare, and education which have great unrealized
potential."
Information about the Competitiveness Foundation's mandate and other
projects is available online at http://www.cf.am/. The Tatev Revival
Project is described fully on its own site at http://www.tatev.am/.
From: A. Papazian