Apresyan: International tourism in Armenia will grow 5% at year-end 2016

ArmInfo. International tourism in Armenia will grow 5% at year-end 2016, Head of the Tourism Department of the Armenian Economy Ministry Mekhak Apresyan made this forecast on June 10 at the press conference.  He noted that international tourism in the country grew by 8.6% in Q1 2016.

"Positive trend of inflow of tourists will be mainly determined by diversification of tourism and is a result of the ministry's work conducted within the recent several years", he clarified answering to ArmInfo's correspondent question. Apresyan mentioned establishment of visa free regime for Iran's citizens as additional factor contributing to growth of number of tourists to Armenia. "The Armenian government has already approved the initiative related to enter of Iranian tourists to Armenia without visas. Due to the visa free agreement we will register significant growth of tourists from Iran", he noted informing that in quarterly terms the number of Iranian tourists increased by 40% compared to the same period of last year.

According to him similar agreements are in force for the citizens of the USA and Brazil. "According to the governmental program these agreements are aimed at ensuring Armenia's accessibility as a tourism country. At the current stage work is underway to boost inflow of tourists from other countries by establishing visa free regime", he added.  Apresyan also noted that the number of Russian tourists has grown by 10% in Q1 2016 compared to negative trend of last year. He informed that by the number of tourists Russia continues to lead, followed by Georgia, Iran and the EU countries.

At the same time the Head of the Tourism Department of the Armenian Economy Ministry informed that the loan document signed between Armenian government and the World Bank on "Local Economy and Infrastructure development" program envisages also assistance to creation of tourism infrastructures, which surely will have positive impact on the dynamics of tourist inflow to Armenia.