YEREVAN (Armenpress) — 25% rise in the number of tourists has been recorded in Armenia as of April, 2017 compared against the same period of 2016, Chairperson of State Tourism Committee of the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments of Armenia Zarmine Zeytuntsyan told the reporters before the launch of a conference on Armenia’s touristic opportunities. “Armenia recorded 15% rise in the number of tourists in the first quarter of this year against the same period of the last year. The rise for the first 4 month stands at 25%, while taking only April the rise is 45%”, Zeytuntsyan stated
She added that analytical works are underway currently, since the war of 2016 greatly impacted the number of tourists. “Though even in April of 2016 we recorded 5% rise in the number of tourists, the April war had a significant impact. Now we are trying to find out how much growth we would have recorded if the war of last year had not happened. I am convinced the difference would not be so striking”, Zarmine Zeytuntsyan said.
She added that the rise in the number of tourists has mainly been achieved owing to the visits from the countries considered as target countries by Armenia. “The number of tourists visiting Armenia from Iran has significantly increased. We have recorded rise also from China, where the rise is small in terms of number, but very much in terms of percentage. We have recorded rise also from Russia. I can say that after the granting Russian citizens with the right to visit Armenia with internal passports 7 thousand Russian tourists have visited Armenia within two months and I have no doubts this number will rise”, she said.
Zarmine Zeytuntsyan also informed that events aimed at presenting Armenia’s touristic attractions have been organized in Russia and Iran, during which Armenia’s culture, cuisine and other touristic attractions were introduced.