Tourism development in Armenia to flush population income

PanARMENIAN.Net - World economic crisis has affected tourism development in Armenia, said Mekhak Apresyan, Head of Tourism and Regional Development Division at Ministry of Economy. According to international statistical data, recession in 2009 will be 0%-1%. "Tourism development in Armenia will flush population income, create new job opportunities and contribute to economy in general," Apresyan said adding that 60-70 thousand out of 580 thousand visitors in 2008 were not ethnic Armenians. The Armenian government approved an AMD200 million tourism development program for 2009. 510 thousand tourists visited Armenia in 2007, 558.4 thousand in 2008. "Thanks to the current program, the figure is expected to reach 650 thousand," Apresyan said.