Blogger says expensive air tickets, hotels deter tourists from ArmeniaApril 4, 2018 - 18:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Alexander Lapshin, a Russian-Israeli blogger who was imprisoned in Baku for visiting Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) and freed several months later, is unable to understand why air tickets to Armenia and hotels in the country are so expensive. “Now I'm in Egypt, but I'll fly from Israel to Yerevan in a week," said the blogger, adding that the minimum price for a one-way ticket is 180 euros, whereas to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi a ticket costs 86 euros. According to him, it is nearly impossible to find a mid-range hotel under 50 euros in the Armenian capital. “I lived in London for 50 euros in the center of the city, which means that there are not enough hotels [in Yerevan],” he added. The blogger revealed that his mother is a retiree who is able to spend a week in Paris, Rome or Barcelona spending 500 euros from her pension on the air tickets and accommodation, but a trip to Armenia is too expensive for her. “Armenia with its massive potential could attract millions of tourists and earn billions of dollars. But in practice, 7 million guests visit Georgia each year, and 1.5 million prefer Armenia,” Lapshin says. As reported earlier, Lapshin is expected to arrive in Armenia to participate in the 5th international tourism fair, In Tour Expo 2018, where he is set to talk about travel. Related links: 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.” |