Armenian tourism industry may recover in 2021, expert says
YEREVAN, September 16. /ARKA/. Armenia's tourism industry may fully recover in 2021, head of the Armenian Tourism Federation Mekhak Apresyan said at a press conference today.
"If our policy is correct, if we are able to create good conditions, ensure security and public health, then we will fully recover in 2021," he said.
Apresyan said the decision to resume regular flights to and from Armenia from September 11 is consonant with the best scenario for the development of the country's tourism industry.
"The global tourism market has shrunk due to the coronavirus pandemic, and all the countries wishing to restore tourism industry will find themselves in strong competition, trying to defend their positions and seize new ones. Therefore, we must create the necessary conditions and be competitive,' Apresyan said.
In particular, according to him, it is necessary to treat with great responsibility the safety of citizens and public health, to secure quick tests for coronavirus upon entering the country (to decide clearly whether tourists coming to Armenia should have negative tests certificates with them or need to take the test at arrival and what should be done in case the test is positive).
Apresyan also said that in the first half of the year, inbound tourism in Armenia fell by 60%. For comparison, in the first half of last year, about 770 thousand foreign tourists had visited Armenia, while the figure for this year's first half is 311 thousand visits.
At the same time, he said that domestic tourism exceeded the expectations by 10%, growing to about 140 thousand visits, compared to last year's 235 thousand.
Earlier, the National Statistical Committee reported that the number of foreign tourists visiting Armenia in the first half of 2020 dropped to 311,264 against 770,055 in the same period in 2019. The figure was based on data for January-March 2020 only, before Armenia closed the borders.
Armenia introduced state of emergency on March 16 to curb the spread of the coronavirus. It was extended five times for a month. The latest extension ended on September 11 and was replaced with quarantine regime.
Restrictions on free movement and some types of economic activity introduced on March 24 were removed on May 4. Public transport, gyms, kindergartens and catering facilities were allowed to resume on May 18 and on August 12, Armenia allowed the entry of foreigners and holding of meetings and rallies, but wearing masks and observing social distance remain mandatory.
Armenia has so far 46,376 confirmed cases of coronavirus; the death toll has reached 923. -0-.
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