YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. In the second quarter of this year tourism grew by1.8% compared to the same period of the previous year. “Armenpress” reports that the head of Department of Tourism of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, Mekhak Apresyan, informed journalists about this, hoping that the results of the third quarter and the entire year will be satisfactory.  “We have optimistic expectations. We try to ensure at least the annual 5% growth foreseen by government plan. We hope no shocks will occur that will have a negative impact on tourist flows”, Apresyan mentioned.

Tourists from Russia, Georgia, the European Union, Iran and the USA visit Armenia most of all. Mekhak Apresyan informs that decrease in tourist visits has been recorded in the first quarter of this year. Though the second quarter recorded increase in tourist visits, it was less than the previous years, mainly conditioned by the decrease of tourist flows from Russia. “Rubble depreciation had a negative impact on the outgoing tourism of that country”, Apresyan clarified.

The Department of Tourism cooperates with China to increase tourist flows from that country. “Everything is done to make Armenia recognizable in the world market”, the head of the department mentioned, adding that tourists from countries of Far East, such as Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, as well as Latin America visit Armenia.

Tourist visits to Armenia made 1 million 203 thousand and 746 in 2014, which is an increase of 11.3% compared to 2013.