Tuesday, February 28 2017 22:32

ArmInfo.Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan received President of Associated Television International David McKenzie on February 28. The meeting discussed issues of increasing international awareness of Armenia, improving tourism  opportunities and stimulating inbound tourism.

As the Government's press service told ArmInfo, David Mckenzie said  that his company is going to make a documentary film about our  country, with an emphasis on getting to know Armenia as the first  Christian country, presenting its culture, history and the traditions  of the Armenian people in a bid to help increase tourists' interest  towards Armenia.

Thankful for the initiative, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan said to  be keen to enhance Armenia's tourism attractiveness, and assured of  his readiness to discuss any proposal to that effect. 

To note, the Armenian  State Committee on tourism intended to  duplicate tourits flow in Armenia by 2020. The tourism sector in  Armenia finished the year of 2016 with 5,7% growth. That was stated  by Zarmine Zeytuntsyan, the Head of Armenian State Committee on  tourism un der the Ministry of Economy and Investments, mentioning  that during the year of 2016 Armenia welcomed 2.867 mln foreign  nationals, 1.259 from which were tourists. According to her, the   greatest role in the  tourism growth is up to nationals of  Russia,Iran, Arabian Emirates, China and others. At that Zejtuntsyan  stated that the number of Iranian tourists in 2016 grew for 30%, and  Russian - for 2,3%,versus the 6% drop down a year before.  Comparing  the figures of Armenia and Georgian tourism sectors, Zejtuntssyan  mentioned that despite the assets allocated from the budget for the  tourism development (USD 400 thousand against USD 8 mln allocated in  Georgia in 2016), from  all the  persons visited Georgia (6,6 mln),  the tourist share formed  just 2,8 mln or 42,4%, while in Armenia  this indicator is equal to 43,9%. In this respect Zejtuntsyan  mentioned: " The results are not deriving much in per cent  expression. And if we look at this issue from another point of view,  than USD 8 mln is too big figure for tourism development"