Mekhak Apresyan: Tourist flow to Armenia will increase by 15% in 2019

ArmInfo.According to the results of 2019, the tourist flow to Armenia will increase by 15% per annum. A similar forecast, answering the question of ArmInfo  correspondent, was voiced by chairman of the Armenian Tourism  Federation Mekhak Apresyan.

Referring to official data, he noted that already according to the  results of 9 months of this year the y-o-y growth of tourist visits  to Armenia is fixed at 14.4%, which, according to the head of the  Federation, indicates the dynamic development of the domestic tourism  industry, and is driven by government policy and private sector  efforts.

Answering the question of ArmInfo, Apresyan noted that Russia  continues to lead in the number of tourists choosing Armenia.  However, at the same time, as he continued, there is an interesting  upward trend in tourist visits from the countries of the Far East (in  particular China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines), South America and  Scandinavia. He also emphasized that according to a study conducted  in 2013, 90% of visits to tourists came from individual tourism, and  only 10% came from organized tourism, with pre-purchase of vacation  packages. <This suggests that Armenia has become recognizable in the  international market>, Apresyan stressed.

However, the expert noted that in the near future, taking into  account the y-o-y growth of tourists, Armenia will be ready to accept  even more tourists. Apresyan determined his opinion primarily by  activity in road construction, the dynamic development of hotel  facilities and infrastructures.

At the same time, he emphasized that the winter season in Armenia  continues to be the least active in terms of tourist visits. "If  compared with other seasons, the dynamics are really much inferior,  however, when viewed from the point of view of y-o-y growth, it  should be noted that every year the number of tourists visiting  Armenia in the winter grows by about 10%," Apresyan said.

It should be noted that according to the Statistical Committee of the  Republic of Armenia, in January- September 2019 for tourism purposes,  1,459,152 people visited Armenia. (with an increase of 14.4% per  annum), and 1 312 282 people left (with an increase of 14.3% per  annum).