ARMENIAN TOUR OPERATOR: TOURISTS REGISTRATION METHOD USED IN ARMENIA DISTORTS REAL PICTURE

ArmInfo
2011-01-27 13:02:00

ArmInfo. The tourists registration method used in Armenia distorts
the real picture, Chairman of the Union of Inbound Tour Operators of
Armenia Robert Minasyan said during a press-conference today.

According to this method, each person entering Armenia on purposes
other than business is registered as a tourist.

No more than 10-15% of those people are real tourists.

According to official statistics, 585,000 tourists visited Armenia
in 2009 and 457,000 in Jan-Sept 2010 (15% more than in Jan-Sept 2009).

“Our second biggest problem is poor tourist infrastructure in the
regions. And one of the possible ways to solve it is a special tax
regime that would stimulate investors to make long-term investments.

Those who build hotels and those who operate them should pay the
same taxes. In this case investors will be ready to make long-term
investments. The average investment in a hotel pays off in 8-10 years.

The Government might stimulate this process by providing investors with
plots for their construction projects and ensuring their connection
to necessary infrastructure,” Minasyan said.

From: A. Papazian