YEREVAN. – Robert Minasyan, Chairman of the Armenian Union of Tour Operators, is unhappy with the state of domestic tourism in Armenia.

“There can be no spontaneous tourism,” he said at a press conference on Wednesday. “Today, Armenians need to breathe fresh air. (…). They don’t do [that] today. Domestic tourism is not developed [in Armenia].”

Minasyan added that if domestic tourism is developed, the other domains can be easily developed, too.

Head of the Armenian Union of Tour Operators noted that Armenia needs to be advertised in the countries from where tourists may come.

“We need to do work with two countries: Russia and Iran,” added the expert. “We need the organized tourist, who comes through a tour operator, [and] the trip is paid in advance; that’s how our country can get profit.”

He noted, however, that domestic tourism needs to be advertised in Armenia.

“Much work needs to be done, a program needs to be made for that,” added Robert Minasyan.

The expert also stated that there is a shortage of good respective professionals in Armenia.