ArmInfo.Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan received President of Associated Television International David McKenzie on February 28. The meeting discussed issues of increasing international awareness of Armenia, improving tourism opportunities and stimulating inbound tourism.
As the Government's press service told ArmInfo, David Mckenzie said that his company is going to make a documentary film about our country, with an emphasis on getting to know Armenia as the first Christian country, presenting its culture, history and the traditions of the Armenian people in a bid to help increase tourists' interest towards Armenia.
Thankful for the initiative, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan said to be keen to enhance Armenia's tourism attractiveness, and assured of his readiness to discuss any proposal to that effect.
To note, the Armenian State Committee on tourism intended to duplicate tourits flow in Armenia by 2020. The tourism sector in Armenia finished the year of 2016 with 5,7% growth. That was stated by Zarmine Zeytuntsyan, the Head of Armenian State Committee on tourism un der the Ministry of Economy and Investments, mentioning that during the year of 2016 Armenia welcomed 2.867 mln foreign nationals, 1.259 from which were tourists. According to her, the greatest role in the tourism growth is up to nationals of Russia,Iran, Arabian Emirates, China and others. At that Zejtuntsyan stated that the number of Iranian tourists in 2016 grew for 30%, and Russian - for 2,3%,versus the 6% drop down a year before. Comparing the figures of Armenia and Georgian tourism sectors, Zejtuntssyan mentioned that despite the assets allocated from the budget for the tourism development (USD 400 thousand against USD 8 mln allocated in Georgia in 2016), from all the persons visited Georgia (6,6 mln), the tourist share formed just 2,8 mln or 42,4%, while in Armenia this indicator is equal to 43,9%. In this respect Zejtuntsyan mentioned: " The results are not deriving much in per cent expression. And if we look at this issue from another point of view, than USD 8 mln is too big figure for tourism development"