ArmInfo. Armenia plans to receive at least 1.4 million tourists in 2016 - by 5% more than in 2015, Emil Tarasyan, Deputy Minister of Economy, said in parliament, Monday.
Previously, he said, the growth of the sector averaged 10%-11%. To boosts tourism, the budget will provide 188.4mln drams in 2016.
He said the absolute number of tourists to Armenia's neighbor countries exceeds the number of tourists in the country, but these number are comparable, considering the spending of tourists inside the country and the ratio to GDP.
Tarasyan said the budget 2016 will provide 3.2 bln drams to the Economy Ministry, of which 2 billion 154 million drams will be spent on various projects, events, and marketing programs to boost tourism.
According to the Ministry, in Q2 2015, 256,000 tourists visited Armenia, which is by 1.8% more than in 2014. Armenia ranked the 89th in The Travel and touristy Competitiveness Report 2015 released by the World Economic Forum.