Armenia holds 89th spot in tourism competitiveness rankingOctober 18, 2016 - 13:56 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The recently-published Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index 2015 Ranking has placed Armenia in the 89th spot globally. Published once every two years, the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index, which covers a record 141 economies this year, aims to provide a comprehensive strategic tool for measuring the “the set of factors and policies that enable the sustainable development of the Travel & Tourism sector, which in turn, contributes to the development and competitiveness of a country.” The country was ranked the 79th among 140 states in 2013, and the 90th out of 139 nations back in 2011. Armenia's international tourism expenditures amount to $502 million, while international tourism receipts total $458 million. The figures are taken from 2013 or most recent available data. International tourism expenditures are expenditures of international outbound visitors in other countries, including payments to foreign carriers for international transport.International tourism receipts, on the other hand, are expenditures by international inbound visitors, including payments to national carriers for international transport. According to the report, T&T industry makes up 2.0% of the country's total GDP, industry share in total employment comes close to 1.8%. In the study, Turkey and Russia are placed in the 44th and 45th spots, respectively, followed by Georgia in the 71st position, Azerbaijan in the 84th and Iran in the 97th. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. 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. 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. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |