International tourism rate decreased by 8% in January-April 2009July 4, 2009 - 17:09 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - According to World Tourism Organization - provided data, a decrease in people planning a holiday abroad has been registered within the first four months of 2009. International tourism rate decreased by 8% in January-April 2009, compared with last year's results. Number of tourists to Europe decreased by 10%.Recent data made International Tourism Organization review tourism development forecast for 2009. They believe that the number of foreign tourists will decrease by 4-6% compared with 2008. Financial crisis is the reason for problems in tourism sphere. In the first quarter of 2009, number of tourists to Armenia increased by 2,8% (85 000 people) compared with the same period in 2008. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |