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WINTER SEASON TOURISM: TRAVEL AGENCIES IN ARMENIA SAY DEMAND EXCEEDS AVAILABLE OFFERS
Society | 10.12.14 | 13:27
By Sara Khojoyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Although holiday packages are not affordable for many in Armenia,
specifically during winter months, demand exceeds supply, tour
agencies say.
"Customers book tickets much earlier now because starting from November
there was not one vacant room in any hotel in Tsakhkadzor," Tourism
Association founder Marina Kpryan told reporters on Tuesday.
For a 4-5-day trip outside Yerevan a four-member family must spend
300-800,000 AMD (about $660-1700), all-inclusive, Hotels Association
President, Tufenkyan Company Executive Director Hakob Hakobyan said.
According to official statistics, last year in Armenia around 670,000
people preferred such a holiday, recording a 30.1 percent growth as
compared to 2012. During the first six months of this year around
100,000 internal tourists recorded 30.4 percent growth as compared
to the same period of 2013.
According to Hakobyan, the result of the meeting with directors of
five hotels show that compared to last year sales data is the same,
which makes it possible to assume that many Armenians prefer spending
winter holidays outside the country.
Joel tour agency director Sona Yeghiazaryan said that Armenians mostly
prefer leaving for seaside warm countries, such as Egypt, the United
Arab Emirates, Thailand, spending $700-800 on average per person.
"Europe is also a favorable destination, only in this case there
is the problem with embassies, and those who want must deal with
the visa since August, just like we start reservations in August,"
Yeghiazaryan said.
Meanwhile, tourism sphere representatives value the growth of tourism
inflow in Armenia, however with regret they emphasize that specifically
winter is not considered an active season, because it is not full of
cultural events, offers are limited to restaurant parties and music.
According to the statistics from the Ministry of Economy Tourism
Department, last year Armenia was visited by more than one million
tourists - 12.6 percent more than in 2012, during the first six months
of this year - around half a million, 17.3 percent more than during
the same period of last year.
To improve the service for incoming tourists this year three new
hotels were opened in Armenia, which, according to Hakob Hakobyan,
enriched the market supply by 550 new rooms. Next year another 300
rooms are expected to be added.
"In Yerevan one can find a room for any budget - starting from 15,000
AMD till 700,000 (around $30 - $1,500). The average price is 45,000
AMD (around $100) breakfast included, and for a capital city it is
a normal price," Hakobyan said predicting price increase in the field.
"If food gets more expensive that reflects on food expenses made by
the hotel as well," he said.
http://armenianow.com/society/59216/armenia_tourism_new_year_winter
From: Baghdasarian
Society | 10.12.14 | 13:27
By Sara Khojoyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Although holiday packages are not affordable for many in Armenia,
specifically during winter months, demand exceeds supply, tour
agencies say.
"Customers book tickets much earlier now because starting from November
there was not one vacant room in any hotel in Tsakhkadzor," Tourism
Association founder Marina Kpryan told reporters on Tuesday.
For a 4-5-day trip outside Yerevan a four-member family must spend
300-800,000 AMD (about $660-1700), all-inclusive, Hotels Association
President, Tufenkyan Company Executive Director Hakob Hakobyan said.
According to official statistics, last year in Armenia around 670,000
people preferred such a holiday, recording a 30.1 percent growth as
compared to 2012. During the first six months of this year around
100,000 internal tourists recorded 30.4 percent growth as compared
to the same period of 2013.
According to Hakobyan, the result of the meeting with directors of
five hotels show that compared to last year sales data is the same,
which makes it possible to assume that many Armenians prefer spending
winter holidays outside the country.
Joel tour agency director Sona Yeghiazaryan said that Armenians mostly
prefer leaving for seaside warm countries, such as Egypt, the United
Arab Emirates, Thailand, spending $700-800 on average per person.
"Europe is also a favorable destination, only in this case there
is the problem with embassies, and those who want must deal with
the visa since August, just like we start reservations in August,"
Yeghiazaryan said.
Meanwhile, tourism sphere representatives value the growth of tourism
inflow in Armenia, however with regret they emphasize that specifically
winter is not considered an active season, because it is not full of
cultural events, offers are limited to restaurant parties and music.
According to the statistics from the Ministry of Economy Tourism
Department, last year Armenia was visited by more than one million
tourists - 12.6 percent more than in 2012, during the first six months
of this year - around half a million, 17.3 percent more than during
the same period of last year.
To improve the service for incoming tourists this year three new
hotels were opened in Armenia, which, according to Hakob Hakobyan,
enriched the market supply by 550 new rooms. Next year another 300
rooms are expected to be added.
"In Yerevan one can find a room for any budget - starting from 15,000
AMD till 700,000 (around $30 - $1,500). The average price is 45,000
AMD (around $100) breakfast included, and for a capital city it is
a normal price," Hakobyan said predicting price increase in the field.
"If food gets more expensive that reflects on food expenses made by
the hotel as well," he said.
http://armenianow.com/society/59216/armenia_tourism_new_year_winter
From: Baghdasarian