How to travel easily and affordably: top destinations and planning options

Recent geopolitical developments have also reshaped travel patterns for Armenian tourists. While the Gulf countries ranked among the most popular destinations in previous years, interest in them has declined this year due to regional developments. At the same time, demand for several other destinations, including Egypt, has risen sharply, significantly affecting the prices of travel packages.

"Egypt remains the most popular destination this year, as it has been in previous years. However, prices for holidays there have increased compared with previous seasons. Despite this, Armenian tourists continue to choose Egypt in large numbers," Vladimir Gevorgyan, director of a travel company, told Armenpress.

Cyprus ranks second among the most sought-after destinations, with demand even higher than last year. This comes despite visa-related difficulties earlier this year, when many travellers were unable to plan their holidays in advance because securing an appointment at the visa centre was nearly impossible.

“The situation is much more stable now, and tourists have started actively planning holidays in Cyprus. A national visa is required for this destination, so travellers should apply about one to one and a half months before their planned trip to allow sufficient time for the process.

“As for travel trends, we are also seeing changes in Egypt. This year, interest in El Alamein has grown significantly, whereas it was not among the most popular destinations for our tourists last year,” said Gayane Ghazazyan, Product Manager at the MyTour platform.

Given the growing demand, Armenpress sought to understand what options are available for organising holidays more quickly and conveniently. As digital technologies continue to evolve, many travellers prefer solutions that allow them to arrange everything with just a few clicks. MyTour is one such platform, enabling users to organise their entire trip online.

“Through the platform, users can search for hotels and travel packages, compare offers, make bookings, and receive vouchers and all other required travel documents online. In other words, travellers can plan and book their holiday within minutes without wasting time or visiting multiple offices.

“In addition, we aim to cover almost every aspect of travel planning through the platform. For Cyprus, currently one of the most popular destinations, we have created a dedicated section within the platform that brings together all booking options for that destination,” Ghazazyan said.

Traditionally, travellers planning a trip to Cyprus first search for the most affordable flight dates, then book a hotel, and only afterwards begin the visa application process, using several different platforms. MyTour has now integrated all these steps into a single platform.

“Another major advantage of MyTour is that although the platform is fully online and users can independently search for and book their preferred travel package, assistance is always available if needed. Our team of specialists helps customers choose suitable hotels and travel packages. The team is always available, support is provided free of charge, and every user can contact us for advice and recommendations,” Ghazazyan added.

According to tourism industry representatives, although Armenians generally prefer beach holidays during the summer season, European destinations also remain high on the list of preferred travel choices.

“This year we have introduced a new destination - Albania. Traditional European destinations such as Greece and Cyprus continue to enjoy strong demand. There has also been a change regarding Montenegro, which has become a visa-required destination for Armenian citizens. While Armenians were able to travel to Montenegro visa-free during previous summer seasons, interest in the destination has declined somewhat this year,” Vladimir Gevorgyan concluded.

Despite various challenges that have emerged at different times, travelling today has become easier and more accessible thanks to the growing range of digital platforms and technological solutions.