In Dsegh, the workers of Tumanyan's house-museum are women in bathrobes, while a sharp smell of manure comes from the neighboring houses: Harutyunyan

Editor Karen Harutyunyan wrote on his Facebook page:

“If we want to develop tourism, we need to tune the style and design of the past. Every corner of our country is more beautiful than the other. Just 2.5 hours flight from the desert countries of the Gulf, even in the hottest months, we have snow and permanent cold rivers, waterfalls, ponds, Lake Sevan, and wonderful forests (which we are ruthlessly destroying).

However, the development of tourism in Armenia should start from domestic tourism. Moreover, if this sector is invested in thoughtfully and tastefully, it will inevitably bring great profits. I’m not saying it requires large investments. There are many facilities in Armenia where tons of money have been invested, but they are merely tasteless and faceless buildings.

For example, I went to Dsegh yesterday. The road to the village is very good. Beyond Dsegh, towards Tsovner, Martz, Lorut, and Ahnidzor (the other big village of Lori, Hrant Matevosyan's village) is in a disastrous state. The nature along this road is fantastically beautiful. But taking a regular sedan can cost you a lot.

Right in Dsegh, the Tumanyan house-museum is not particularly impressive. The life of this great man is not portrayed well. And the workers of the museum are women in bathrobes.

In the museum's yard, there is a sharp smell of manure coming from the neighboring houses. Now you will reproach me in the style of “It’s us, our mountains” by saying, “That’s not filth, that’s manure.” But NO. A tourist loves cleanliness and comfort. Even if the conditions here were similar to today’s in 1869, it should be edited.

Owners of rural guesthouses often confuse uniqueness and authenticity with sloppiness. Just because people 150 years ago didn’t take showers doesn’t mean that any guesthouse now can lack a normal restroom or ventilation or have a messy backyard.

The spirit of the old times must be adapted to modern demands; the design of the past must be tuned. The quality of service must fundamentally change.

I am confident that any tastefully made investment will not lack guests and will bring quick returns.

This is also a great opportunity for investments for the Diaspora. There is plenty of life and potential outside the Yerevan center-Garni/Gegard-Sevan triangle.

In the photo: The Tsovner lake in Dsegh.”