The flow of Chinese tourists in Armenia has increased sharply. Lusine Gevorgyan, Chair of the Tourism Committee of Armenia, told this to a press conference Monday

Gevorgyan stated that in 2024 the number of tourists arriving in Armenia from China amounted to more than 33 thousand, but in 2025 it was already more than 45 thousand. According to her, an increase in the number of tourists arriving in Armenia from China is observed not only by air, but also by land, via Georgia.

Gevorgyan added that if additional flights are launched between Armenia and China, it will be possible to organize joint tours with Georgia.

Also, she recalled that in January 2026 the number of tourists arriving in Armenia exceeded 170 thousand, which is 40 thousand more than in January 2025.

“According to 2025 data, 41 percent of tourists arrived [in Armenia] from Russia. An increase in the number of tourists was recorded also from Georgia—about 300 thousand people. Many tourists arrive in Armenia from Iran also,” the Armenian official noted.

She admitted that in 2025, compared to 2024, a decrease in the tourist flow in Armenia from Russia was recorded, but overall, the number of tourists visiting Armenia increased by 2.7 percent as a result of market diversification.

Gevorgyan assured that after the decision to liberalize Armenia’s visa regime with the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, an increase in the number of tourists in Armenia from these countries is observed.

She reported a sharp increase also in tourists visiting Armenia from Romania, which occurred after the launch of affordable flights to Armenia.

“Activeness is observed from other European countries also, as well as from the United States—the increase was 15 percent,” Gevorgyan added.

The chair of the Tourism Committee recalled that the recently approved Tourism Development Strategic Program for 2026-2030 by the government of Armenia envisages the development of historical and cultural, gastronomic, adventure, MICE (business), ecotourism, religious, and medical tourism. She added that, in conjunction with the UN, a conference on medical tourism will be held in Armenia, with the participation of leading countries in this field.

“In addition, we are working on creating a digital tool for the development of medical tourism [in Armenia]. The Med.am platform has been created jointly with the Armenian-American company, which will be launched soon. It will help to find the best doctors of different specialties on a single platform,” Gevorgyan noted.

She informed that the implementation of a program for the development of seven separate tourism clusters will begin in the near future, within the framework of which roads will be built and other infrastructure issues will be resolved in Armenia.

According to her, starting from July 1, an online registry of the tourism sector will operate in Armenia, and it will become a platform for interaction with state agencies and will enable the Tourism Committee of Armenia to recognize it as a tourism business entity and receive certificates. The Armenian official noted that hotels, guesthouses, tour operators, travel agents, tourism guides, and buses will be certified in Armenia. She added that this platform will become a database which will enable compiling a rating table of tourism business entities and ensuring conscientious activity.

Lusine Gevorgyan announced that Armenia will participate in Russia's largest MITT international tourism exhibition, where last year the country was represented with the same-name pavilion and within the framework of which active cooperation was established with Russian partners.

The head of the Tourism Committee of Armenia added that last year, 79 international journalists and bloggers visited Armenia, and active cooperation is being carried out with international media.