Tourism is one of the most exciting industries in Armenia as it impacts on the cultural and natural resources, economic and social development. The government has strongly placed an emphasis on this segment, and the visitor activity in the recent years is a proof of it. According to the National Statistic Centre of the RA visitor activity in 2009 was considered to be 575,281, which is a welcoming fact if we compare it with the overall decline declared by the UN World Tourism Organization which report overall tourist activity to be 4%. This drop in tourism, as it’s already predicted, was conditioned by the financial-economic recession held in 2009 that had a great impact on the whole spheres.
While reminding the law of the RA on Tourism and Tourist Activities we are to mention that: “Tourist is a visitor who stays at the place (country) of destination at least for vernight during the travel. A visitor is a citizen traveling from his/her permanent place of residence (country) to another place (country) for a maximum term of one year with no intervals the main purpose of whose travel is not paid labor activity in the place (country) of destination and who receives no remuneration for his/her main labor activity in the place (country) of destination.”
On the questions: how do you appreciate the visitor activity in 2009, what obstacles we faced, what amendments are to be adopted, Mekhak Apresyan, head of Tourism and Regional Economic Development Department at Ministry of Economy together with the Tour Operators’ Union President and Rector of Armenian Tourism Institute Robert Minasyan made their analysis the most attractive part of which will be included in the article of tourism. According to Mr. Apresyan, the world economic crisis has not strongly affected the tourism sector in Armenia, but there are still lots to do which and responsibilities of Government as well the Private Sector should be unanimous on the matter. Among people who preferred spending their vacations in Armenia were mainly from Russia, Georgia, countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS), Iran, European Union member states, the U.S. and etc. These countries, according to Mr. Minasyan, are donor countries that will contribute the tourism industry in our country. Mr. Apresyan and Mr. Minasyan have a unanimous opinion on some matters of amendments; particularly we are to understand tourists’ willingness to participate in tourism planning and the factors influencing their willingness because they are an integral part of the destination and ultimately one of the main buyers of our product. We must take care of their rest; organize attractive events, concerts, festivities, souvenir purchase and etc. The private sector must take care of the matters that relate to the quality of accommodation, service and food, the range and cost of activities available, as providing a holiday package as a prize for a competition or even staying in touch with customers provides promotion of the product. Mr. Apresyan also added that our Government seeks ways to promote and develop tourism in the country and since 2006 the country has launched series of advertising films on channels such as CNN, EuroNews. “Moreover, in 2009 we have shot a documentary film (52 minutes) titled “Armenia – Noah’s Land” that will be broadcasted on world famous channels. But we must also put an emphasis on the law of supply and demand.” Mr. Minasyan was also concerned in the problem: “First of all we must make the marketing tools strong, employ trained personnel by means of creating training centers, guides’ courses, master classes.” These matters are included in the referendum of governmental activities on tourism which are to be implemented during 2010, only with a unanimous work of the Government and the Private Sector.
