Expert: "Russo Turisto" is a public with money

ArmInfo. Russian tourist is a spender, which contributes to his demand in any part of the world and especially in Armenia, with its kitchen and sights. Such an opinion on 24 February during the press conference expressed the founder of the tourist group of companies "Laura" Vladimir Gevorgyan. 

According to him "there is a special psychology of how much the Russian tourist envisages to spend on his trip, and spends the last penny in that state". In this regard, Gevorgyan said that the Russian tourists after visiting Armenia has repeatedly faced with the problem at the airport luggage overweight. "There were times when tourists from Russia visited the shop of Yerevan Brandy Factory ArArAt and spent there up to $2 thousand", he said.

According to Gevorgyan, the increase of the number of Russian tourists in the light of the entry permit to Armenia by domestic passports will provide financial contributions to the economy, and assist raising awareness about Armenia. "It is very important that Armenia was considered as a new direction in the international tourism industry", he stressed.

During the press conference the head of the State Committee for Tourism of the Ministry of Economic Development and Investment of Armenia Zarmina Zeytuntsyan spoke as well. According to her, in 2016 453.5 thousand visited Armenia from Russia against 443 thousand compared with 2015. However, the head of the State Committee hopes more for the 2017 tourist year, though answering to ArmInfo question, Zeytuntsyan found difficult to give a specific forecast for the current year, noting the new opportunities in this direction that are open to Armenia in the light of the novelty related to internal passports. "According to our sources in the Russian Federation only 10% of citizens have passports. This creates great opportunities for us", she said. According to her, Russian tourists in Armenia are interested cuisine tourism and urban life. In this regard, Zeytuntsyan stressed the importance of corporative tourism development. At the same time, the head of the State Committee noted that Armenia is an affordable destination for Russian tourists and from a financial point of view as well. "I hope that at the end of the year, the growth in the number of Russian tourists will justify the amount of work we have done", she said.

According to the Armenian National Statistical Service, in January-December 2016 1,259,657 tourists arrived in the republic, with an annual growth by 5.7%. In January-December 2016 for the purpose of tourism 1,262,687 people left the Republic, with an annual growth by 6.3%.

To recall, the State Committee for Tourism of the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments of Armenia was established in October 2016.