Study: Demand for air tickets to Armenia grows in Russia this year 

ArmInfo. This year the demand for air tickets to Armenia is growing in Russia this year, according to a study conducted by Tutu.ru analysts. The analysts say that the share of the purchased tickets to Armenia has almost doubled. "The air ticket prices dropped by 40% from 11,606 RUR to 7,062 RUR, contributing to positive dynamics," the experts say. 

Earlier Head of the Tourism Department of the Armenian Economy Ministry Mekhak Apresyan said that international tourism in Armenia will grow by 5% in 2016. Last year as many as 1 mln 192 thsd tourists visited Armenia (1% less than during the previous year). The indicator fell because the number of tourists from Russia declined. At the same time, Apresyan said that 8.6% growth was registered in Q1 2016. "In Q1 2015 the number of visits was 252 thsd, and during the same period of 2016 the growth made up 8.6%," he said. 

On 23 October 2013, the Armenian Government approved an open skies  program or a program ensuring provision of competitive air services in Armenia. The program is based on the joint survey of McKinsey & Company and the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia. 

After the adoption of the open skies policy, new air carriers entered the Armenian market and the companies, which had previously left the market, returned to the republic. In particular, as of late 2015, Aegean Airways, Georgian Airways, Iraqi Airways, Al Naser, Mahan Air, Middle East airways, S7 Airlines, Czech, LOT carried out flights to Armenia. Qatar Airways also expressed an intention to operate Yerevan-Doha-Yerevan direct fights.