417.08 EUR 
536.74 RUR 
Tourism growth to exceed 9% by end of year
YEREVAN, December 27. /ARKA/. Tourism growth is expected to range between 9.2% and 10% by the end of the year, Armenian minister of economy Tigran Davtyan told a rpess conference Wednesday.
In the beginning of the year there were concerns that the projected growth is not realistic as inflow of tourists from Iran was dropping. Yet, tourism growth is expected to stand at about 830,000 tourists or 9.2-10% by the end of 2012, the minister said.
Tourism grows as infrastructures, roads and communication services are improving and hotel network is expanding.
A total of 20 new hotel complexes opened and will open in 2012 and 2013, including Tufenkian, Nationale, Nairi, Silachi and Tsaghkadzor Marriott, the minister said.
Two new Hyatt chain hotels are expected to open in Jermuk and Yerevan, and a Golden Palace hotel in Tsaghkadzor soon.
Some five hotel chain brands are currently present in Armenia, another two will appear in the near future, Davtyan said. All hotels are providing up-to-standard services, he added.
Another step is made to increase number of tourists visiting Armenia: contractual base is being development to introduce special regimes for Chinese and Indians to easily visit Armenia as tourists, the minister said. -0-
15:24 27.12.2012
