Hotels in Jermuk Have Started Operating, But the Situation is Worrying: Kerobyan

The Minister of Economy, Vahan Kerobyan, visited the resort town of Jermuk on September 13 to assess the situation following the large-scale attack launched by the Azerbaijani armed forces on Armenia's sovereign territory.

"The situation is worrying; however, it should be noted that the hotels in Jermuk have started operating. According to Mayor Vahagn Arsenyan, there were no vacancies on the night of September 13, but it is clear that the situation has changed since then. Nevertheless, we see that life is becoming more active there, as well as in other areas," Kerobyan stated during a conversation with reporters.

The Jermuk cable car is not operational due to issues with importing spare parts and renovation. Before September 13, there were no vacancies in Jermuk's hotels, and now it is possible that 10-15 percent of the hotels are occupied by tourists," he added.

Regarding the economic damages incurred by Armenia due to Azerbaijani aggression, Kerobyan stated that the shelled settlements play a minor role in Armenia's economy; however, the overall business environment has been affected—numerous events have been canceled and some investors have begun to postpone their plans. Nevertheless, Kerobyan urged all investors not to stop or delay their plans.

The minister also reminded that the government has allocated funds to the regional administrations for the rapid restoration of the settlements. "Today, the regional administrations are actively working on revitalizing the environments. We also plan programs to enhance the tourism environment," Kerobyan said.