YEREVAN. – In line with preliminary unofficial assessments, the number of Iranians that came to Armenia to celebrate their Nowruz (New Year; on Thursday, March 21) holidays in the country is almost twice less than the same indicators last year, Haykakan Zhamanak daily reports.    

“In an interview with us, private individuals that provide services to Iranian tourists presented such assessments.

Accordingly, in the case when private carriers were demanding $200 last year to bring the Iranian tourists from [Armenia’s] Meghri [city] to [capital city] Yerevan, now our drivers can expect a mere $100-$120 for the same service. At the same time, this year our drivers have to wait for a quite long time at the customs to collect the corresponding number of ‘passengers.’   

Last year, the number of Iranians [visiting Armenia] was so much that those who provided rental detached homes were taking about $150 per day from them. Now, however, the Iranians are renting two detached homes for the same price.       

To note, in the Nowruz days of last year, about 15,000 Iranian tourists had visited Armenia,” Haykakan Zhamanak writes.