Armenia expects 20% rise in foreign tourists this year, department head says
15.03.2011,
22:28
Mekhak Apresian, head of an economy ministry department in charge of tourism and territorial-economic development, said in an interview with ARKA that the number of foreign tourists visiting Armenia is expected to grow 20% this year to 800,000.
YEREVAN, March 15. / ARKA /. Mekhak Apresian, head of an economy ministry department in charge of tourism and territorial-economic development, said in an interview with ARKA that the number of foreign tourists visiting Armenia is expected to grow 20% this year to 800,000. According to government data, the number of foreign tourists visiting Armenia last year grew by 19.9% to 684,000 people.
‘Judging by the previous years’ dynamic and in view of the trends in this sector the growth rate will be preserved in 2011 as well and we expect a 20% rise in the number of tourists,’ he said.
Speaking about home tourism he said the figure last year rose 4.8% to 456,000 visits and the projection for this year is that it will rise a further 10% to about 500,000 visits. Mekhak Apresian said also the growth will be secured by a set of programs which were started 2-3 years ago and their results will be visible already this and next years.
‘In 2009 we commissioned a film called Armenia- the Country of Noah- which was broadcast in Scandinavia having resulted in increased number of tourists from that region. The film was purchased also by Spanish TV stations and will be broadcast in more than 100 countries with a population of 350 million,’ he said, adding that the number of Spanish tourists increased 20% last year to 1,396.
The majority of foreign tourists visiting Armenia are from Russia, Georgia, EU, Iran and the USA.
According to Mekhak Apresian, the number of Iranian tourists has increased significantly over the last few years and besides Armenia is becoming a destination for tourists from African countries, Cambodia, Latin America. The number of tourists from Luxembourg, Madagascar, Turkey and Macedonia has also increased, he said, attributing it to an advertisement about Armenia aired by CNN. -0-
‘Judging by the previous years’ dynamic and in view of the trends in this sector the growth rate will be preserved in 2011 as well and we expect a 20% rise in the number of tourists,’ he said.
Speaking about home tourism he said the figure last year rose 4.8% to 456,000 visits and the projection for this year is that it will rise a further 10% to about 500,000 visits. Mekhak Apresian said also the growth will be secured by a set of programs which were started 2-3 years ago and their results will be visible already this and next years.
‘In 2009 we commissioned a film called Armenia- the Country of Noah- which was broadcast in Scandinavia having resulted in increased number of tourists from that region. The film was purchased also by Spanish TV stations and will be broadcast in more than 100 countries with a population of 350 million,’ he said, adding that the number of Spanish tourists increased 20% last year to 1,396.
The majority of foreign tourists visiting Armenia are from Russia, Georgia, EU, Iran and the USA.
According to Mekhak Apresian, the number of Iranian tourists has increased significantly over the last few years and besides Armenia is becoming a destination for tourists from African countries, Cambodia, Latin America. The number of tourists from Luxembourg, Madagascar, Turkey and Macedonia has also increased, he said, attributing it to an advertisement about Armenia aired by CNN. -0-
