ArmInfo.The outbreak of coronavirus pandemic in Armenia in early 2020 dealt a powerful blow primarily to the tourism sector, since the restrictive measures introduced during the state of emergency aimed at preventing the spread of the virus included the closure not only interstate borders, but also intercity and intercommunal borders, as well as the temporary suspension of the activities of facilities of catering and accommodation.
As a result, Armenia's tourism sector has still not been able to recover. According to statistics, the tourist flow decreased in H1 2021 by 22.2% per annum - to 239.3 thousand people, with a decrease in domestic tourism by 28.4% - to 59.5 thousand people. But catering and accommodation services registered high growth rates in the first half of 2021.
In particular, in the reporting period, 72.2 billion drams (138.4 million US dollars) were provided from the catering and housing sector, ($ 138.4 million, with a change in the y-o-y dynamics from a decline of 42.6% to an increase of 62.5%. ЏаЁ н⮬, Ї® з бвЁ ®аЈ Ё§ жЁЁ Їа®¦Ёў Ёп гб«гЈ Ўл«® ЇаҐ¤®бв ў«Ґ® 10.6 ¬«а¤. ¤а ¬®ў (б ўл室®¬ Ј®¤®ў®© ¤Ё ¬ЁЄЁ Ё§ 61,2%-Ј® бЇ ¤ 45,3%-л© а®бв), Ё§ Є®Ёе 95,2% ЇаЁи«Ёбм ¤®«о Ј®бвЁЁж - 10.1 ¬«а¤. ¤а ¬®ў (б ўл室®¬ Ј®¤®ў®© ¤Ё ¬ЁЄЁ Ё§ 59,9%-Ј® бЇ ¤ 15,4%-© а®бв).
At the same time, from the organization of accommodation services were provided 10.6 billion drams (with a change of the y-o-y dynamics from 61.2% decline to 45.3% growth), of which 95.2% fell to the share of hotels - 10.1 billion drams (with change of a y-o-y dynamics from the 59.9% decline by 15.4% growth).
In the sector of catering, an increase of 65.7% to 61.6 billion drams was registered (against a 37.3% decline in the previous year), of which the lion's share fell on restaurants - 82.8% or 51 billion drams, which in the reporting period increased the volume of services provided by 69.3% (against 39.2% decline a year earlier).
From Bars, other drinking establishments and other public catering facilities were provided 10.6 billion drams during the reporting period, with a y-o-y growth of 50.2% (against 28% decline a year earlier).
In January-June 2021, the average settlement rate of the dram was 522.08 AMD / $ 1, against 483.50 AMD / $ 1 in January-June 2020.