SOME 800,000 FOREIGN TOURISTS EXPECTED TO VISIT ARMENIA THIS YEAR

/ARKA/
October 21, 2011
Yerevan

YEREVAN, October 21. / ARKA /. A deputy economy minister Ara Petrosian
said today the number of foreign tourists visiting Armenia in 2011
is expected to grow by 18% from 2010 to over 800,000.

Speaking to journalists he said according to experts’ estimates,
the number of tourists visiting Armenia in January-September 2011
increased by 18% from a year before to 600,000. He said if the trend
keeps on the overall growth by yearned will be 18 percent.

According to deputy minister, about 80% of foreign tourists have some
knowledge about Armenian history and culture.

“Armenia is a small country as a tourist product, so we need to develop
regional proposals with our colleges in Georgia and Iran,” he said.

According to the National Statistical Service, the number of tourists
visiting Armenia in January-June 2011 increased by 15.6% compared
to the same period in 2010 and amounted to 266,155 people. At the
same time, the number of Armenian tourists traveling outside Armenia
increased as compared to the first half of 2010 by 18.3% to 274 621
people.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress