GAGIK GINOSYAN: PROMOTING TOURISM THROUGH FOLK TRADITIONS, NOT MORE HOTELS
Narek Aleksanyan
Gagik Ginosyan, director of the Garin folk dance ensemble, told
reporters today that Armenians should be more concerned with displaying
their national customs and traditions, rather than giving priority
to building hotels, if it wants to promote tourism.
Ginosyan said the government should be investing in the preservation
of traditions that have been passed down through the generations in
a natural, spontaneous fashion.
He also spoke about the need to pay more attention to promoting
"village tourism", i.e., giving foreign tourists the opportunity to
visit rural homes and share a meal of traditional Armenian cooking.
Ginosyan added that Armenian song and dance should be incorporated
in such visits to afford tourists a well-rounded taste of Armenian
traditional culture.
Another important aspect in promoting such folk tourism is the
celebration of national holidays.
Ginosyan noted that while the church has kept religious holidays alive,
secular folk holiday celebrations have waned over the years. He argued
that one of the causes is most likely 70 years of Soviet rule, where
the national element was an object of ridicule.
http://hetq.am/eng/news/27901/gagik-ginosyan-promoting-tourism-through-folk-traditions-not-more-hotels.html
Narek Aleksanyan
Gagik Ginosyan, director of the Garin folk dance ensemble, told
reporters today that Armenians should be more concerned with displaying
their national customs and traditions, rather than giving priority
to building hotels, if it wants to promote tourism.
Ginosyan said the government should be investing in the preservation
of traditions that have been passed down through the generations in
a natural, spontaneous fashion.
He also spoke about the need to pay more attention to promoting
"village tourism", i.e., giving foreign tourists the opportunity to
visit rural homes and share a meal of traditional Armenian cooking.
Ginosyan added that Armenian song and dance should be incorporated
in such visits to afford tourists a well-rounded taste of Armenian
traditional culture.
Another important aspect in promoting such folk tourism is the
celebration of national holidays.
Ginosyan noted that while the church has kept religious holidays alive,
secular folk holiday celebrations have waned over the years. He argued
that one of the causes is most likely 70 years of Soviet rule, where
the national element was an object of ridicule.
http://hetq.am/eng/news/27901/gagik-ginosyan-promoting-tourism-through-folk-traditions-not-more-hotels.html