Nerses Yeritsyan: representatives of tourism industry should develop investment strategy

PanARMENIAN.Net - On July 12, Armenian Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsyan said that representatives of the tourism industry should develop an investment strategy to develop the industry in Armenia.

The number of tourists to Armenia should be brought to one million people within several years, Yeritsyan told a meeting on Outlooks of Tourism Industry and Hindrances for Its Development.

In addition, the Minister offered to introduce amendments to the existing laws or adopt new ones to regulate the field, what will allow developing tourism in Armenia at an international level.

For his part, representative of CAPS Arsen Manukyan noted that four discussions were held in the RA Ministry of Economy with participation of the field representatives, as a result of which around 30 issues were raised, out of which 20 issues were included on the July 20 meeting's agenda.

Training of guides and their licensing are among the field's problems. And a representative of Armenia's Guild of Guides noted that it is necessary to introduce amendments to guides' licensing.

The meeting was organized by the RA Ministry of Economy, through the assistance of a USAID program – Competitive Armenian Private Sector (CAPS), as well as Council of RA Unions of Tourism Field. The meeting brought together unions of tourism companies, heads of around 40 tour operators and representatives of the state sector to discuss outlooks of the field development and existing problems.

The RA Ministry of Economy, jointly with CAPS experts, is drafting a bill on Tourism, the adoption of which will create more favorable conditions for the field development.