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YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan completed his visit to the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and on December 12 paid a working visit to Vayots Dzor Province, press service of the Presidential administration told “Armenpress”.
The President held a consultation in the city of Jermuk to discuss issues related to the tourism development. The sector’s development potential, the upcoming projects, the obstacles and problems of the tourism development, as well as their solution ways were presented at the consultation.
The consultation was attended by Vice Prime Minister, Minister of International Economic Integration and Reforms Vache Gabrielyan, Minister of Economic Development and Infrastructures Suren Karayan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Development Davit Lokyan, Culture Minister Armen Amiryan, Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Harutyunyan, Chairman of the State Committee of Urban Development under the Government Narek Sargsyan, Acting Chairwoman of the Tourism State Committee Zarmine Zeytuntsyan, Head of the Toursim Development Policy Department Mekhak Apresyan, Governor of Vayots Dzor Province Harutyun Sargsyan, Jermuk community leader Vardan Hovhannisyan, Executive Director of the Development Foundation of Armena Karen Mkrtichyan, Executive Director of the Territorial Development Foundation of Armenia Ashot Kirakosyan. All presented reports to the President on a number of issues related to the tourism development.
At the beginning of the consultation, the President stated that despite certain positive results achieved in the tourism sector, there is still a great potential which is not fully revealed. He highlighted that the tourism sector cannot actively develop only through the efforts of the sector representatives.
“This is an interrelated whole series of economic development, and all the rings of it must be firm, operate actively in order to be able to achieve final result. And all must take responsibility. We must understand that the sector can develop only through our joint efforts. Of course, there is a great potential, and expecting great results in a short period of time is not realistic. But every day we must see the pace of the development, every day we must record a success, perhaps small, aiming to conduct what we have signed, at least in five years to triple the volumes. This must be for us as a realistic issue in terms of solution.
It is not a coincidence that we are holding this consultation in Vayots Dzor Province where there are very good historically formed preconditions for tourism development”, the President said, adding that the southern route is passing through this Province. He said this route has a great chance to become as part of greater projects, such as Iran-Armenia-Georgia regional tourism package.
“I think that the local sefl-government bodies can play a key role in the development of this sector, and especially, the community leaders who are the integral parts of this chain. We must develop Jermuk and other tourism centers. Here we have a lot to do, and every community leader must always consider in his decisions how it contributes to the tourism development. And not only the community leaders: here all participants must think whether his/her activity is effective in this regard”, the President said. He brought some examples on the sector’s development opportunities, as well as the existing preconditions. He recalled Pope Francis’ visit to Armenia which was held under the slogan of “Visit to the First Christian Nation”. Moreover, Pope Francis publicly announced that he pays a “pilgrimage” to Armenia. President Sargsyan said all these were positive signs based on which the sector representatives must build Armenia’s competitive advantage in the tourism sector.
“I think we pay a little attention to inter-republic tourism development. This not only solves economic development, but also other issues. There is no better patriotic propaganda, better military-patriotic education than recognizing your own country. Every young man understands without any word that he has an obligation to defend his country. Although it seems we record a great growth in the incoming tourism by the development of infrastructures of Tatev Wing, here we also have to work, especially when both Yerevan residents and the people of provinces have a great desire to visit those places, therefore, we must create opportunities”, President Sargsyan stated.