YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. The government’s Action Plan contains positive messages in terms of the development of tourism, Mekhak Apresyan – Chairman of the Armenian Tourism Federation, told a press conference in ARMENPRESS.

“The government’s Action Plan highlights free competition and justice which is one of the main pillars for the economic development. It attaches great importance to the promotion of export, stating that the expert volumes over GDP should reach 43-45%. Major results are expected from the tourism sector in the development structure of the economy, which is very important”, he said.

Apresyan noted that there are problems in the field which require solutions. “Today we have many tourism companies, tour guides, some of which are working properly, pay taxes, provide high-quality services and create jobs. But in line with them there are also tour guides who provide low-quality services and hinder the competitiveness situation. This can negatively affect Armenia’s image because those with low-quality services spread disinformation about Armenia’s historical-cultural heritage”, he said.

According to him, tourism is not only an economic issue, but also it has a social, cultural and political significance. In this context, the Chairman of the Armenian Tourism Federation proposes concrete legal regulations.

“The law on Tourism played a great role, but today it needs serious changes, concrete qualitative criterion should be defined. We propose to be consistent with the licensing of the aforementioned services or define an “activity type subject to notification”. These are the activities of tour guides, tour operators and agents”, he stated.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan