YEREVAN. – Armenia launched first joint scientific-touristic expedition, which will last till Oct. 9. It includes representatives of Russian International Academy for Tourism and Armenian Institute for Tourism, as well as young people.

The expedition is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of establishment diplomatic relations between Armenia and Russia and aims to develop tourism in Armenia, activate flows of Russian tourists and later from the CIS states.

Armenia registered increase of arriving tourists by 5 percent, making over 280,000 people. At the same time, 20 percent of tourists were from the CIS states, while 36.9 percent from the EU states.