Bringing three million tourists to Armenia would provide $1.8 billion GDP growth, economist says
26.06.2017,
16:19
An Armenian economist Vilen Khachatryan has questioned today the government’s plan to bring as many as 3 million foreign tourists to the country saying in order to achieve this target, set by the government’s plan of actions for 2017-2022, the number of tourists visiting Armenia must grow by 300,000 annually.
YEREVAN, June 26. /ARKA/. An Armenian economist Vilen Khachatryan has questioned today the government’s plan to bring as many as 3 million foreign tourists to the country saying in order to achieve this target, set by the government’s plan of actions for 2017-2022, the number of tourists visiting Armenia must grow by 300,000 annually.
Speaking to reporters, he said it is very difficult to achieve, although promoting Armenia as the first Christian nation in the world is attractive and can work, but there is a problem with the infrastructure, hotels and services.
He said one million tourists will bring to Armenia about $1 billion, and attracting 3 million tourists can provide a GDP growth of $1.8 billion. According to official data, the number of tourists visiting Armenia in the first quarter of 2017 surged by 18% year-on-year to 300 thousand.
According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Investment, the number of visits to Armenia in 2016 reached almost 2.9 million, of which 1.26 million were tourist visits, by 5.7% more than in 2015. The growth was provided by tourists from Russia, Iran, the UAE, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Indonesia, Colombia, the Netherlands, Oman, the Philippines, Spain and Turkey.
More precisely, the number of tourists form Iran rose by 30%, the number of visits from Russia increased by 2.3%, down from 6% rise in 2015.-0-
Speaking to reporters, he said it is very difficult to achieve, although promoting Armenia as the first Christian nation in the world is attractive and can work, but there is a problem with the infrastructure, hotels and services.
He said one million tourists will bring to Armenia about $1 billion, and attracting 3 million tourists can provide a GDP growth of $1.8 billion. According to official data, the number of tourists visiting Armenia in the first quarter of 2017 surged by 18% year-on-year to 300 thousand.
According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Investment, the number of visits to Armenia in 2016 reached almost 2.9 million, of which 1.26 million were tourist visits, by 5.7% more than in 2015. The growth was provided by tourists from Russia, Iran, the UAE, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Indonesia, Colombia, the Netherlands, Oman, the Philippines, Spain and Turkey.
More precisely, the number of tourists form Iran rose by 30%, the number of visits from Russia increased by 2.3%, down from 6% rise in 2015.-0-
