Mekhak Apresyan: We intend to increase the number of visitors to Armenia

YEREVAN, MARCH 21, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian government recently confirmed the Tourism Development Program 2011, which intends to make the number of the tourists visiting Armenia reach 450 thousand. Armenpress news agency interviewed head of the Tourism and Territorial Economic Development Department of the Armenian Ministry of Economy Mekhak Apresyan about the works implemented in this direction.

-Mr. Apresyan, what steps will be undertaken this year for development of tourism, which will be the primary directions of the program?

-In 2011 the marketing policy is intended to activate and develop: Armenia should be properly presented as an attractive tourism center, which in its turn will contribute to stable growth of the tour visits to Armenia. We attach high importance to Armenia’s participation in international authoritative tourism exhibitions. In the previous years the tourism result was presented in about 35 exhibitions – Berlin, London, Paris and Rome. As a result of active participation in these exhibitions many representatives of the private sector of tourism sphere get opportunity to advertise their packages, to establish business ties with foreign partners through direct contacts.

The implementation of suchlike events contributes to spread of information about Armenia’s tourism result, to establish closer cooperation with representatives of global tourism industry and to provide a stable growth of international tourism visits. This year there is an intention to provide the participation of Armenia’s tourism industry in 3 international authoritative tourism exhibitions.

-What is more important for development of tourism?

-The publication and wide-scale circulation of the advertising and information materials occupies a special place in that issue. During 2011 we intend to provide a new quality of advertising and information materials and geographical expansion of circulation. Their presence will give an opportunity to present Armenia’s tourism result and advertise in international exhibitions, fairs, forums and during numerous events of the sphere.

Important events like the celebrations of proclaiming Yerevan a book capital and 500th anniversary of Armenian book printing will be presented to tourists in advertising and information materials.

-How much does www.armeniainfo.am website contribute to presenting Armenia as an attractive country for tourism?

-That website provides information about all the picturesque sites of Armenia, cultural treasures, important events, national merits, parks, galleries, as well as information which is necessary for every tourist who visits Armenia.

Through www.armeniainfo.am website tourists are presented interactive maps, as well as full information is provided about tour agencies, hotels and restaurants. This year we intend to reconsider and update the database about the tourism infrastructures and attractions of Armenia at www.armeniainfo.am website. Those works will contribute to providing of full and exact information about Armenia to foreign and local tourists.

-Familiarizing-educational visits of foreign visitors were implemented in the previous years. Are such visits intended for this year?

-It is already several years that familiarizing-educational visits of foreign journalists to Armenia are implemented. This kind of events are directed toward familiarizing foreign journalists with Armenia’s tourism result on place and establishing practical ties with Armenian tour operators.

By visiting Armenia and getting acquainted with Armenia’s tourism result, tour operators get an opportunity to assess and present Armenia’s tourism result in the markets of demand on the basis of their own impressions.

This year too we intend to organize visits of 10 journalists from countries considered to be target market for Armenia. The main goal of the visits is to present the Armenian culture, traditions, historical heritage, which in future foreign journalist will present in newspapers and magazines published in their country.

All this is one more means of advertising Armenia as a country attractive for tourism. We hope that thanks to this program the number of tourists visiting Armenia will grow year by year.