Armenian Tourism Committee did not ask hotel owners to equip prayer rooms for Muslim visitors

YEREVAN, February 10. /ARKA/. Armenian Tourism Committee denied scandalous publications in local media, which claimed that the head of the Committee demanded that hotel owners provide separate prayer rooms for Muslim visitors.

“Hraparak” newspaper claimed that the head of the Tourism Committee Lusine Gevorgyan stated at a recent meeting with hotel owners that hotels must have prayer rooms for Muslims, otherwise they will be deprived of their license.

According to the newspaper, some hotel owners objected that there is no such requirement in the law, but Gevorgyan “justified” the change, saying that Armenia is entering the Arab market and it is mandatory.” Hotel owners suspect that this is being done for Azerbaijanis who may be granted free entry to Armenia in the near future, the publication claimed.

The Tourism Committee said today that a meeting was held on February 5 at the Ministry of Economy with hotel service providers, who were given a list of countries from which the largest number of tourists is expected in 2025.

A statement from the Committee said today that the head of the Tourism Committee, “emphasizing the need to strengthen Armenia's image as an attractive tourist country for target countries, said that hotel owners who want to ensure the growth of tourist visits from the Persian Gulf and other Arab countries, if possible, can recommend tourists special offers regarding food or religious requirements.”

“In this context, there was no requirement for prayer facilities in hotels. We also inform that the activities of organizations providing hotel services are not licensed, so it is not possible to deprive them of their license.”

The Tourism Committee urged the media to refrain from publications that mislead the public and contain unverified information that could damage one's reputation and cause unnecessary tension. -0-