Tourism development in Armenia to flush population incomeApril 16, 2009 - 16:03 AMT 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. 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 | Pashinyan travels to Iran to pay tribute to Raisi, others Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has left for the Islamic Republic of Iran on a working visit. Armenia-Qatar ties discussed in Doha The Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council met with the Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council of Qatar. ARARAT special evening dedicated to Aznavour's 100th Anniv. On May 20 ARARAT legendary Armenian brandy, celebrated the centennial of Maestro Charles Aznavour with a special event. Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. |