According to various international organizations, the global economic crisis has affected approximately 70% of the population in Armenia. The News.am correspondent studied the situation in tourism industry of the country.

“Levon-Travel” agency informed that the number of people willing to spend their summer holidays overseas has significantly decreased. In particular, compared to last year the number of tourists to Antalia, a resort in Turkey, has reduced. Visitors to Europe are also a few because of the high hotel rates. The agency representatives consider, that one of the main reasons is incredibly high airfare; “You see, each airline fixes its own exchange rate. For instance, if today the Central Bank fixes the rate of Euro at 506 AMD, at airline companies quote at 530 AMD.”

People working at “Sputnik” Travel Agency complained about the decrease of users’ activity, first of all due to the expensive airfares. They mentioned even the low demand for the “affordable resort” like Georgian Kobuletti is.

Despite the crisis, “Sakvoyage” Travel Agency recently has launched its activities. Maya Tokhalyan, the Director of the agency was not able to evaluate the decrease of local tourism rate. Meanwhile, she thinks that majority of Armenians prefer Antalia to Armenian health resorts, emphasizing, that unfortunately because of incredibly high prices Armenians are not interested in tourism around Armenia. “How can the situation be changed? First of all, by creation of alternative airlines and dramatical decrease of hotel rates”, said Tokhalyan.
The representatives of “Unona Tour” Travel Agency commented on these issues in a very specific way. In response to the News.am correspondent, asking the names of some popular foreign countries of Armenian tourists, they said: “As the RA Prime Minister called Armenians to spend their holidays in Armenia, we follow his advice and offer tours around Armenia.”

Maybe the Prime Minister should advise to decrease the prices for resorts in Armenia, or call air-companies to keep up the exchange rates fixed by CBA. Apparently, this can be called efficient anti-crisis step toward the support of local tourism industry.