Armenia's membership in the European Union (EU) and the possible resultant introduction of a visa regime with Russia and Iran will significantly reduce the flow of tourists into Armenia, said deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council, Aleksey Shevtsov, TASS reports.

"Considering that tourism provides about 13.5 percent of Armenia's GDP, and almost a quarter of the officially registered workforce is employed in the sector, it can be said that this will deal a heavy blow to the country's economy and population," Shevtsov added.

He noted that supporting anti-Russian sanctions will have an additional negative impact on Armenia's economic indicators.

"The transport sector will suffer especially, since the main part of Armenia's cargo turnover (according to EAEU data, up to 80%) falls on Russia. In addition, EU membership will significantly change tourist and transit passenger flows [into Armenia]. According to the Tourism Committee of Armenian data for 2025, almost half of tourists arrive [in the country] from Russia (41%) and Iran (8%), and the annual income being received from Russian tourists reaches $1 billion," said the deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council.