YEREVAN. – The number of Iranian tourists in Armenia is more this year than last year, TATEV-T.T.T. Tour Agency Director Arlen Davudyan said at a press conference on Friday.

He noted that Newroz (Persian and Kurdish new year) is beginning on March 21, and concerts of Iranian singers will be held in those days in Armenia, for Iranian tourists.

In Davudyan’s words, in the case when only one flight a day was conducted from Iran to Armenia in 2015, three to four daily flights are scheduled for this year.

Around 5,000 Iranian tourists are expected to come to Armenia by land, and another 4,000 to 5,000 Iranians—by air.

“We [i.e. Armenia] will have around 10 thousand Iranian tourists this year,” the expert added. “We also worked with hotels this year, and the [hotel accommodation] fees are more affordable.”

Arlen Davudyan noted that this year’s large flow of Iranian tourists into Armenia is also due to the current instability in Turkey. As a result, these Iranians started coming to Armenia instead of Turkey.