ArmInfo. Romania and Slovenia will join Armenia in the joint implementation of the "Wine Route" initiative within the framework of the Silk Road. This was stated in a conversation with ArmInfo by Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Tourism of the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments of the Republic of Armenia Mekhak Apresyan. He noted that the RA Tourism Committee received official confirmation from Romania and Slovenia after sending the concept for the development of the initiative.
According to Apresyan, preliminary consent was given by Georgia, Bulgaria, Greece and Moldova before sending the concept of the "Wine Route" to all the countries participating in the UNWTO (World Tourism Organization). The Deputy Head of the Ministry noted that at this stage negotiations are continuing with the other WTO member countries on joining the initiative.
To note, a month earlier the State Committee of Tourism of Armenia sent the concept of the "Wine Route" within the framework of the Silk Road, developed by the Smithsonian University, the tourist agencies of all the countries participating in the UNWTO.
To recall, in 2017 Armenia at the UNWTO meeting, having expressed a desire to lead the working group for the implementation of the Wine Route Initiative, received the approval of the WTO, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), and other Silk Road countries.
According to the Armenian National Statistical Service data, Armenia in the end of 2017 produced 8.8 million liters wine and increased the export of wine by 30%. According to the Customs Service of Armenia, in 2010 Armenia exported 2.8 million liters of wine, with an annual growth of 50.5%, with the increase in customs value by 81% to $ 10.8 million.