Armenian tourism gains from a number of objective reasons.July 24, 2009 - 17:55 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - According to preliminary data 207 729 tourists visited Armenia over first half of 2009, Mekhak Apresyan , head of the department of tourism and regional economic development of the RA Ministry of Economy told a press conference on Friday. According to him, the tourism industry undergoes no recession, and even records a slight growth. "60 per cent of all tourists visiting Armenia are from the world-wide Armenian Diaspora, and this year the number of Diaspora representatives visited Armenia hasn't also reduced," Apresyan said. In 2008 most of the tourists visited Armenia were of older age, people with established habits, who are less affected by the crisis. However, he noted, that insufficient development of alternative forms of tourism is the main reason for the lack of interest from younger generation. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |