Armenia's tourism industry is reviving - expert
YEREVAN, May 11. /ARKA/. Armenia's tourism industry heavily hit by the coronavirus pandemic is reviving, according to Gayane Ayvazyan, a public relations and digital marketing experts of the State Tourism Committee.
Speaking at a news conference she said Russian tourists have been visiting the country in growing numbers since the beginning of May. One of the factors behind the recovery of this sector is the large scale of vaccinations of people against Covid-19 across the world, she added.
"We know that Armenia opened its borders to the world, but many countries still keep them closed, which hinders the tourism sector and poses certain challenges," she said.
Despite the signs of recovery, Ayvazyan stressed that it is too early to talk about the full recovery of the tourism sector. "International studies show that only after 2023 it will be possible to talk about a complete recovery of the tourism sector," she said.
Nune Manukyan, the director of the Festivar Association of Armenian Festivals, said that event tourism has finally taken root in Armenia. She also unveiled the list of festivals to be held in Armenia in 2021.
"We are expecting tourists from Russia, Germany and England," she said.
Manukyan noted that many festivals are held in border settlements, for example, the festival of honey and berries is held in the city of Berd, the festival of gata (Armenia pie) in the village of Khachik.
"We want to show people, both Armenians and foreigners that although these villages are located on the border, they are safe," she said.
According to her, the festivals are aimed at encouraging the organizers to hold events in the communities for the development of the regions of Armenia.
Citing the ongoing vaccination of population against Covid-19, the Armenian government decided earlier this month to amend the quarantine procedure, allowing foreign citizens with "green passports" (Covid-19 certificates), i.e. those who have got two doses of the vaccine, to arrive in Armenia without taking PCR test.
The requirement for a compulsory PCR test for one-year-old children when entering Armenia is removed too.-0-
