An Absolute Record for Armenia: Kerobyan on Tourism

The National Assembly is discussing the Government's proposal for a package of laws on Tourism, aimed at addressing the challenges facing the development of this sector and realizing the opportunities it offers, particularly in Armenia.

According to Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan, this package represents a significant reform in the tourism industry, which aims to tackle all challenges currently hindering the development of tourism in the country. "Currently, there are challenges in the development of the tourism sector in Armenia that need to be overcome. Among these, improving service quality, ensuring full protection of citizens' consumer rights, and enhancing data and statistical reporting are of primary importance," said Kerobyan.

The package aims to address the following issues: clarifying the conditions for providing tourism services and implementing monitoring mechanisms. Certain types of activities provided by tourism service providers will become subject to notification, and clear standards and requirements will be established for those offering tourism services. Furthermore, the regulatory framework in the tourism sector will be clarified, along with the powers and functions of the Government and state-authorized bodies.

Electronic registration of tourism services and tourism resources will be introduced, along with specific requirements for consumer protection, including contract signing and provision of guarantees, including financial guarantees.

In order to ensure quality standards, qualification mechanisms will be introduced in accordance with international standards, and a qualification system for passenger transporters using tourism buses will be established. Requirements for tourism information centers will also be clarified, and necessary mechanisms for the proper functioning of these organizations will be ensured.

Kerobyan indicated that the proposed draft makes the activity of guides subject to notification, and after undergoing certain certification aligned with specific criteria, they will essentially receive a license, which will also be a subject of notification.

The Minister of Economy revealed that tourism statistics for the month were published two days ago. "I am pleased to announce that according to the data for the past 11 months, 2.2 million tourists visited Armenia, which is an absolute record for the country," detailed the Minister of Economy.

Vahan Kerobyan also stated that Armenia is currently addressing the development of 20 tourism clusters in cooperation with the World Bank, and a contract worth approximately 150 million dollars is expected to be signed to promote the development of these 20 clusters and invest in infrastructure.