Bulk of foreign tourists visiting Armenia are from Russia, Georgia, EU, Iran and the united states
YEREVAN, April 15, /ARKA/. The bulk of foreign tourists visiting Armenia are from Russia, Georgia, EU, Iran and the United States, according to Mekhal Apresian, head of a ministry of economy department in charge of tourism and territorial-economic development.
Speaking to a news conference, he said Armenia is visited also by tourists from Latin American and African countries and urged his country fellows to be hospitable towards all regardless of tourists nationality, saying hospitality is a national trait and should be preserved.
He said a government priority is to diversify the tourism industry and help develop alternative and competitive kinds of tourism, like eco-tourism, rural tourism or extreme, medical, agricultural tourism.
He said developed infrastructure as well as competent travel agencies with skilled staff are key to boosting this sector.
According to the government data, some 684,000 tourists visited Armenia last year, an 19% rise from 2009. Their number is expected to grow this year to 800,000. -0-
