YEREVAN, JULY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsan on July 21 visited Aspar Wild Tour organization. According to him, the activities of this tourism organization are in keeping with the government programs and help develop tourism in the country. The prime minister said that this year the government has initiated a number of measures to promote inbound tourism and assist tour operators with the enhancement of their capacities so that they will be able to provide tourist services both to foreigners and Armenian citizens who intend to visit various places in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. During his visit, T. Sargsyan conducted a consultation with representatives of several Armenian tourist companies. After the consultation held a few days ago, the tourist companies' representatives went to Nagorno Karabakh to familiarize themselves with the prospects of tourism development on the spot. The tour operators presented a new favorable tourism package: a 6-day trip from Armenia to Nagorno Karabakh for 90 thousand drams. They also envisage submitting soon an affordable short-term package. T. Sargsyan underlined that the tourism organizations should examine statistical data to know what countries their potential customers are from, which will help them determine the directions for developing their activity. According to him, studies show that the global tourism has suffered a decline, whereas in Armenia the number of tourists grew by 2.7% in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period of 2008. The number of tourists to Armenia is expected to exceed 600 thousand in 2009 - against about 500 thousand last year. The prime minister said that the prices of tourist packages in Armenia are 3-4 times as much as the expenses on organizing holidays on one's own, whereas the situation is opposite in European countries. He added that according to studies, the Japanese tourists spend the most money in Armenia - nearly 1,400 dollars a day, while Georgians and Iranians spend the least amount of 30-40 dollars daily. Only 20% of tourists visit Armenia for the first time. Nevertheless, about 90% of Armenians living abroad have never been to Armenia. "If you master the tourism organization skills and be able to offer affordable tourist packages, you will succeed in increasing the number of those purchasing these packages, " T. Sargsyan pointed out. The tour operators informed the prime minister about the current problems of the tourism sector. In particular, public lavatories and refuse bins are absent on republican roads, and the areas around many churches of historical significance are in poor condition. T. Sargsyan said the government will do its best to help with solution of the indicated probelms.

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