YEREVAN. – The opening ceremony of “Tufenkian Historic Yerevan” hotel took place in Armenia’s capital on Friday and was attended by President Serzh Sargsyan and Mayor Taron Margaryan.

Owner of the hotel, famous Armenian-American businessman James Tufenkian said the 3-star hotel will provide services at the level of 4-star hotels.

In his turn, Mayor Margaryan underscored importance of building similar hotels not only Yerevan, but across the  country.

“The number of tourists visiting the capital is growing by 100,000 each year, and I hope that this number will grow at the expense of increasing the level of hotel services,” Mayor said.

In turn, the Deputy Minister of Economy Ara Petrosyan said that building Armenian style hotels will facilitate development of tourism. In any country, the use of local building materials in the construction of hotels, cuisine and traditions are a guarantee of success.

Petrosyan noted that capital needs such hotels as there is growing demand in tourist market. There have been lack of hotels in Armenia but businessmen are responding to the problem, he said, adding that five hotels were presented in Armenia this year.

The hotel building was built in the late 19th-early 20th century. It has 85 rooms that can accommodate 200 guests.