ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia Tuesday 9th international barbeque festival to pass in Armenian Akhtala Yerevan July 25 Ani Mshetsyan. On August 20 in Armenian launches 9th international barbeque(khorovats) festival which is one of the most popular festivals in the republic. Contest part of the festival will be held on August 19 in Akhtala, Lori district of Armenia. Within the framework of this event, not only Armenian but also foreign travel companies organize tours to Armenia. "And already there is a large army of tourists who go to Armenia to participate in this festival," said Mekhak Apresyan, first deputy chairman of State Tourism Committee of Ministry of Economic Development and Investments, at a meeting with journalists on July 25. According to Apresyan, the chefs from Georgia, Russia, Lithuania, Austria and Armenia will participate in the competition part of the festival. In the field of tourism development this festival is of great importance, since not only the sights and history of the country are interesting for tourists, but also the national cuisine. The festival also provides an entertaining part in which the Istanbul singer Sevil and other famous local and foreign pop stars will participate. In turn, the head of the public organization "Development and preservation of Armenian culinary traditions" Sedrak Mamulyan said that for the first time Armenia will organize this festival according to international standards, since it really gained wide popularity. About 30 pavilions will be open at the festival. The competition will also differ from the previous ones in that the chefs will cook 5 different types of shish kebab for a certain period of time, and then present culinary masterpieces to the jury. As a reward, the winners will be awarded "Good-will cups of shish kebab". "From now on, Akhtala will receive the status of a shish kebab capital, since of all the cities in which such events are organized, Akhtala is the oldest city and ideally suits as a capital," Mamoulian concluded.