Share of tourism revenue in GDP may reach 10 percent by 2030

YEREVAN, July 4. /ARKA/. The share of revenue generated by Armenian tourism industry in the overall GDP is expected to reach to about 10-12% by 2030, Mekhak Apresian, head of an economy ministry department in charge of tourism and proportional development, told a news conference today.

He said this indicator now stands at 5-7% and the goal is to raise it to 10-12 percent. “This is part of our long-term plan, according to tourism development concept until 2030 ", he said.

"Of course, there are countries where the share of tourism in GDP is 70%, but I would not like such an indicator for our country. The largest indicator in my opinion is 30 percent,’ he said.

According to government data, some 758,000 tourists visited Armenia last year and each spent here an average of $1000. The number of Armenian tourists visiting other countries saw a 10 percent rise form 2010 to 714,000. The numbers for the first half of 2012 will be available only in late July or early August, Apresian said. -0-