YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Today Armenia has much potential for receiving considerable revenues in the tourism sector. For this purpose the state should conduct an encouraging policy and develop this sector by forming the respective legislative field. Robert Minasian, Rector of the Armenian Institute of Tourism (AIT) - the Armenian branch of the Russian International Academy of Tourism, expressed this opinion during a talk with NT correspondent. According to him, tourism is one of the most profitable sectors of economy: about 50 million people are currently engaged in the tourism sector worldwide. R. Minasian noted that it is wrong to conclude that this sector is developing only based on the fact of the increased number of tourists. It is necessary to implement infrastructural reforms: to build hotels accessible to travellers and prepare qualified staff. The RA Law on Tourism, which was adopted in 2003, has a provision on licensing the activity of a torist guide. R. Minasian said that such licences should be granted by some independent organization, like in developed countries and not by the RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, as is done in Armenia by the decison of the Armenian government. The AIT rector also considers the current order of examination for getting a licence to be incorrect as "it is impossible to examine the spoken proficiency (which is important for a tourist guide) by means of a test." In his opinion, it is also incorrect to grant a permanent licence.

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