Expert: Armenians’ visits to historic sites help boost Ankara’s interest

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian -Turkish cultural contacts yield positive results in the interstate relations, creating atmosphere of cooperation, founder of Narekavank Tour LLC, turkologist Armen Hovhannisyan said.

“The larger is the flow of Armenian tourists in the historic homeland, the greater attention Ankara attaches to those areas,” he said, citing restoration of Armenian monuments behind the growth of Armenian pilgrims.

“In the light of growing tourist flows, local authorities of Van stressed the need to hold a discussion on plans that would further boost the influx,” the expert said.

Director of Narekavank Tour Ashot Soghomonyan, in turn, noted development of tourism industry as Turkish government’s sole goal in this respect.

A direct Yerevan-Van flight will become available through the efforts of Narekavan Tour travel agency founders.

As the agency director Armen Hovhannisyan told journalists, the first flight was scheduled for April 3.

The flight will be operating on Wednesdays and Sundays jointly with Borajet Turkish company. The ticket for a 40-minute trip is priced at $250, with a 20% discount offered for April flights.

According to Hovhannisyan, the flight will increase the already significant tourist inflow to Van to boost business ties between Armenia and Turkey.