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Surging Dollar's impact on air ticket prices in Armenia
12:03 * 06.12.14
The increasing exchange rate of the US Dollar has not left Armenia's
air ticket market unaffected.
Travel agencies and airlines claim that they observe a surge in flight
tickets' prices in almost all directions.
Speaking to Tert.am, a source from the travel agency ITOUR said that
flights from Yerevan to Moscow are now 5,000 Drams (approx $11) more
expensive, with the air tickets to Europe selling for a 10,000 Drams'
(approx $20) higher price. More distant flights have grown even more
costly: passengers who want to travel to Thailand, Malaysia, the
United States, Australia, Canada, South America and Singapore have to
pay at least 20,000 Drams (approx $45) more to buy a ticket.
The company source said they are hopeful a decrease in the Dram-Dollar
exchange rate may cause the air ticket prices to drop. But the surge
may be even higher in case the Euro price is up on the currency
market.
A representative from the air company Avia Tour also confirmed a surge
in all ticket prices.
Sources from RIMA travel said that air tickets for Moscow now sell for
70,000 Drams (approx $155), instead of 74,000 Drams ($165) ten days
ago.
The company's founding director, Rima Khachatryan, voiced her concerns
also of another problem. "The surges in the prices of air tickets are
not that essential; tour packages appear to be a greater problem. As
we collaborate with international organizations, we take Dram from our
customers, change the exchange rate and transfer it to those
organizations. And here is where the tour agency faces a problem," she
explained.
Khachatryan said the company does not now expect any income from the
packages' sale. "We cannot call a customer back and say that it is
necessary to pay more because the [exchange] rate is higher. A
customer may refuse [to buy the ticket], causing a problem for us. And
that's not about a loss of 70,000-80,000 Drams (approx $155-$180) but
a million or two," she added.
Tert.am also talked to Babken Pipoyan, the president of the NGO
Informed and Protected Consumer, for comments on the surges' possible
impact on Armenia's economy and the population's well-being.
"We have a big Diaspora, as well as people who leave abroad as
employment migrants. They come to Armenia once or twice a year and
then leave back. But the surge will cause people to come once instead
of twice every year," he said, expressing further concerns of possible
impacts on the imports.
Pipoyan said he fears that expensive air tickets will create problems
also in the tourism sector, lowering the domestic trade overturn.
"Armenia has wonderful perspectives to develop health tourism. But the
surge block those changes too," he added.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/12/06/%D4%B1%D5%BE%D5%AB%D5%A1%D5%BF%D5%B8%D5%B4%D5%BD%D 5%A5%D6%80%D5%A8-%D5%A9%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%AF%D5%A1%D6%81%D5%A5%D5%AC-%D5%A5%D5%B6/1527370
12:03 * 06.12.14
The increasing exchange rate of the US Dollar has not left Armenia's
air ticket market unaffected.
Travel agencies and airlines claim that they observe a surge in flight
tickets' prices in almost all directions.
Speaking to Tert.am, a source from the travel agency ITOUR said that
flights from Yerevan to Moscow are now 5,000 Drams (approx $11) more
expensive, with the air tickets to Europe selling for a 10,000 Drams'
(approx $20) higher price. More distant flights have grown even more
costly: passengers who want to travel to Thailand, Malaysia, the
United States, Australia, Canada, South America and Singapore have to
pay at least 20,000 Drams (approx $45) more to buy a ticket.
The company source said they are hopeful a decrease in the Dram-Dollar
exchange rate may cause the air ticket prices to drop. But the surge
may be even higher in case the Euro price is up on the currency
market.
A representative from the air company Avia Tour also confirmed a surge
in all ticket prices.
Sources from RIMA travel said that air tickets for Moscow now sell for
70,000 Drams (approx $155), instead of 74,000 Drams ($165) ten days
ago.
The company's founding director, Rima Khachatryan, voiced her concerns
also of another problem. "The surges in the prices of air tickets are
not that essential; tour packages appear to be a greater problem. As
we collaborate with international organizations, we take Dram from our
customers, change the exchange rate and transfer it to those
organizations. And here is where the tour agency faces a problem," she
explained.
Khachatryan said the company does not now expect any income from the
packages' sale. "We cannot call a customer back and say that it is
necessary to pay more because the [exchange] rate is higher. A
customer may refuse [to buy the ticket], causing a problem for us. And
that's not about a loss of 70,000-80,000 Drams (approx $155-$180) but
a million or two," she added.
Tert.am also talked to Babken Pipoyan, the president of the NGO
Informed and Protected Consumer, for comments on the surges' possible
impact on Armenia's economy and the population's well-being.
"We have a big Diaspora, as well as people who leave abroad as
employment migrants. They come to Armenia once or twice a year and
then leave back. But the surge will cause people to come once instead
of twice every year," he said, expressing further concerns of possible
impacts on the imports.
Pipoyan said he fears that expensive air tickets will create problems
also in the tourism sector, lowering the domestic trade overturn.
"Armenia has wonderful perspectives to develop health tourism. But the
surge block those changes too," he added.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/12/06/%D4%B1%D5%BE%D5%AB%D5%A1%D5%BF%D5%B8%D5%B4%D5%BD%D 5%A5%D6%80%D5%A8-%D5%A9%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%AF%D5%A1%D6%81%D5%A5%D5%AC-%D5%A5%D5%B6/1527370